"Stealing" our Kids from an Eternity with the Lord

I put "stealing" in quotes because in all reality, the Devil cannot steal our children.  No one can steal a child out of the Lord's Hand.  However, that doesn't mean that the Devil doesn't try lead our children astray and attempt to dispel the Truth.

We have had sick kids in the house the past few days.  Puking and diarrhea have kept the washer going day and night.  So, I am trying to keep them resting and stationary - on top of blankets that are easy to wash.  So, I put on cartoons.  They love them, keep them seated, and I don't have to fight to keep the kids resting.  I'm really strict about what the kids watch and generally G rated cartoons are pretty safe...generally. 

Even though I'm not sitting right with them, I try to always have an idea of what is on TV.  The other morning when I let them watch the "Backyardagains" this is what came on:

The Gods of Mount Olympus

Pablo: Come on, let's go above the clouds to a place that's way up high. Where ancient gods control the world from their thrones up in the sky.
Tyrone: I'm not sure that we'll be welcome.
Pablo: Aw, come on, don't be a wimpus.
Tyrone: Wimpus?!
Pablo: Come on with me and we'll go see...the gods of Mount Olympus. Up above on Mount Olympus is a world all soft and white. Where we'll ask the gods to stop the rain and be back before tonight.
Tyrone: I agree, it would be better if the sun were out again.
Pablo: So, may I suggest an heroic quest?
Tyrone: A heroic task!
Pablo: Let's go and ask the gods of Mount Olympus. We should take with us an offering, something that might appease. Cause the gods are often grumpy and they can be hard to please.
Tyrone: We could teach them basketball!
Pablo: Now you're talkin'!
Tyrone: Count me in, my dear companion, you don't have to ask me twice. Let's go and find this Tasha, she might even be nice.
Both: It'll be a great adventure playing basketball in the sky!
Pablo: So come on, let's go...
Both: Together, we'll go...
Tyrone: Where the rain don't fall.
Pablo: And the wind don't blow.
Both: And they can't say no to some guys from below the clouds of Mount Olympus! So come with me and we'll go and see the gods of Mount Olympus!
 
Ironically, the Backyardagins website posted this for me, so I didn't even have to guess about what was being said.  You can find the link here http://backyardigans.wikia.com/wiki/The_Gods_of_Mount_Olympus .

I have a lot to say about this kind of thing.  I'm sure many parents think it is no big deal, but I can assure you that my children were confused.  The younger kids asked, "Isn't there only One God?"  "You can climb a mountain to visit God?"  Certainly this led to good conversation because I was watching it with them.  But what if I hadn't been?  What lingering misconceptions would have been planted in their minds?  You see the Devil is out looking to destroy our children.  1 Peter 5:8 reads, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

I don't take this kind of thing lightly.  We changed the channel immediately.  I know, I'm "radical."  But to be very honest, maybe more Christian parents need to be radical too.  If we keep turning a blind eye to all the little seeds the Devil attempts to plant in our children's minds, then we have no right to be surprised when they grow up disregarding the Truth.