Praising Our Differences?

It is very politically correct to praise "diversity." We are pressured to acknowledge that we are all different, created differently even. We teach small children to appreciate all the skin colors, eye colors, and hair colors that there are. It's not just looks, either. We praise differences in likes and dislikes. I'm not sure you realize how much this appreciation and acceptance of diversity is preached in public schools.

Of course, on the surface there is nothing wrong with pointing out to children all the beautiful ways God made them different. It is amazing, after all, that our Lord thought of so many ways to make people look. It is so interesting to see that Johnny is good at art and Emma loves to read or dance. And children are truly all created beautifully--and many of them need to hear that.

There is another aspect of this acceptance of diversity that is not as easy to recognize. It is so prevalant in today's society that we, as Christians, hardly notice it. After accepting that we were all created to be different in looks--it's not really that big of a jump to accept that we were all created differently in other ways. Here falls the argument that some people were "just made that way." Under this umbrella falls many excuses. And yet, we are to celebrate that diversity, not tell people that they are living wrong!

So, by the time a child has graduated from high school...where does their thinking fall? Do they think it's wrong that the girl in their 7th grade Reading class was pregnant? Of course not--because the teacher is not allowed to even mention the pregnancy or act like she is pregnant. Do they think it's wrong...or just different...that their friend has 2 moms? Is there a wrong and right? Or just, you know, "like me" and "different from me."

Of course, you teach your children at home what is right and wrong. I know you do, BUT they certainly hear another message loud and clear from the media, songs, movies, their teachers, and other adults in their life. Who wouldn't want their child to grow up accepting of differences when you are talking about their friend with autism, or the child in class with epilepsy? We want our children to be accepting of these differences....but not ALL differences. So we have phrases to help out such as "WWJD?" and "hate the sin, but love the sinner."

This is an area we have to be very careful in. Moms, as keeper of your home (and Dads, as the head of your home), you have to do everything you can to teach your children what God's ways and God's standards are. They are found in the Bible. They are not found very many other places. We must guard our children against the thinking of this world.

Tomorrow: How does this acceptance of diversity affect us as women?