I Don't Wanna Raise My Kids In This World Anymore

I remember the night I found out that my wife was pregnant with our first child. I was ecstatic, and couldn't wait to meet my little baby. Fast forward 2 years and I remember finding out that my wife was pregnant with our 2nd child. I was just as ecstatic and excited, but a little more nervous this time...I'd just gotten through 2 years of raising one, now I have to find a way to get through a lifetime of raising two. The past 4 months of my life, with 2 kids has been the greatest 4 months of my life. I have the life that so many would love to have... a beautiful wife, 2 incredible kids, and a church that is out of this world.

A couple of nights ago, in our small hometown and young lady was found murdered not far from our house. Not long before that a former Hell's Angel was found and arrested for child pornography in our small town. And about a year ago the remains of another young life that ended too early was found. During each of these events my mind was flooded with the negative stories of school shootings, perverts scouring the internet for children, and the fact that 27 million people are in slavery due to the sex industry today...in 2014!! Then, I came to a conclusion...I don't wanna raise my kids in this world anymore.

I don't...don't hate, don't judge, and don't think less of me...the more I live in this world the less I want to raise my kids in this world...and you know what? I don't have to! Now before you go call DSS and become afraid of what I actually mean there, finish reading the blog.

"Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth." Psalm 127:4, NASB

My children, that I've been CHOSEN to parent and raise, are weapons. In a very non-literal sense, I am to load them up, shoot them into the world to leave a mark wherever they may land. An arrow in a warrior's hand isn't meant to be a distraction to hopefully scare the enemy. The arrow the warrior carried was a weapon, meant to inflict punishment on the enemy he was facing. The warrior didn't hold it up and say, "Hey, you! Check this out. I have an arrow...you should be REALLY scared and run away!" He loaded that sucker up, pulled back on the bow string as hard as he could, and delivered it, hopefully right into the chest of the enemy. And if he missed, the arrow would hopefully hit somewhere else on the enemy or so close that he had to go change his pants. And THAT is the comparison a parent has to their kids.

My kids aren't tax credits, government assistance, statues of beauty, nor are they a signification that my life is now complete...far from it! My kids are weapons that will take me years to mold into the arrow that will make a difference. Years of mess ups, years of frustration, years of hurt, years of tears, years of joy, years of laughter, years of figuring it all out - and at the end, my ultimate goal is to allow them to be the arrow that I shoot right into the heart of the enemy, and end one of his many devious plans of destruction.

I don't wanna raise my kids in this world anymore! And I don't have to!

I realize something - it's only by God's grace, mercy, love, and salvation that I DON'T have to raise my kids in this world anymore. His sacrifice and love has created a bridge for me to raise my kids OUT of this world. I have to mold my children (my arrows) to think on this above, not of this world (Colossians 3:2). To know that they won't always understand the ways of God, but I still trust Him (1 Corinthians 2:14). To realize that with God NOTHING is impossible (Matthew 19:26). That Jesus didn't come for religion but for relationship (John 3:16). That the Spirit gives them the guidance they need to use their gifts in a tremendous way (John 14:12). 

So, no...I don't wanna raise my kids in this world anymore. This world is scary, mean, cruel, disrespectful, dishonoring, and has no moral compass. But, this world isn't where my life is measured and designated; nor is it where my kids life is measured or designated. This world isn't our dress rehearsal, this world is the middle act of a lifelong play. And it's up to me to teach my kids their parts before they step up in front of the greatest stage of all, this world, to deliver their part - to display Jesus. It's up to me and my wife, to be living examples of Jesus to everyone we see...and that includes our kids. It's our job to raise our kids out of this world - not in it. And to be honest, that's your job too. 

Don't raise your kids in this world anymore.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, acceptable, and perfect." Romans 12:2, NASB