Lord of the Kings

The world of film and novels is loaded with realm stories, everyone wants to be the next Tolkien or Rowlings. The Bible offers realm stories of kings and thrones with a more comprehensive view of our humanity, kings and God. This episode encourages parents to read these stories to their children, so they will have discernment. 

Transcript

Ethan 0:02

Raising joyful children in an angry world, a podcast dedicated to faithful parents navigating their families through a stormy culture

0:09

This is raising joyful children in an angry world. I'm your host, Paul Osborne. Well, everywhere you look today, podcasts, books, films, streaming episodes, they're exploding in the genre of the realm. Everybody wants to be the next JR Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, JK Rawling, Harry Potter. These stories are popular because they follow the classic quest of a hero. Overcoming obstacles to defeat evil, and they encourage the human spirit and are generally enjoyable to watch or read. I love these stories. I'm not concerned about them, but without knowing the realm genre of the Bible, our kids are at somewhat of a disadvantage. See, Bible stories offer similar conquests and battles, victories, defeats, thrones, and kings, but they also point to the limits of kings and kingdoms. Point us to King Jesus. These stories are really helpful for our kids to grasp not only the gospel, but life in the kingdom of God. The realm stories generally conclude when the hero reaches the goal saves civilization, but it's generally only to set up the next Quest Tolkien story. You know, the unlikely hero Frodo is given a ring he has to destroy. It's connected to an evil king. He sits out with his friends. Who end up splitting up. And so this new smaller partnership continues eventually destroying the ring and the good king takes the throne. But the stories of the Bible that resemble this realm, they differ in that they show us the vulnerability of people to desire foreign gods, pagan practices. They get overtaken by them and God then has to send his message over and over. Don't be afraid. This battle belongs to the Lord and for them to go out and defeat these foreign gods and foreign nations. See, I believe for our children to comprehend these Bible stories, particularly for those who believe we're saved by grace and grace alone through Christ alone. There are some real benefits. One that sticks out to me right now is immunity from these social viral manias. How do young people wake up one day, suddenly believe they must stop the world from ending deliver justice. They cut school, they put on a t-shirt with some obscenity on it and become consumed about some event that they know very little about. Took place a thousand miles away, throw their lives upside down, become filled with anger about something. Now you may think it, it's maturity or intelligence. The educated class is often the most vulnerable to this kind of thing. We see this repeating over and over. It has to do with discernment, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit, and it comes by knowing your Bible. Why do people believe you can usher in change with chaotic violence? Break the law in order to stop what you think is lawlessness. This week I've been studying this story of Deborah. The nation of Israel was turned over by God to the Canaanites because of their evil behavior and falling in love and following foreign gods and the behavior that went with it. They won't listen and they won't fight back because they're being persecuted by the Canaanite army that has their iron chariots. It's like a tank in the days of Canaan and Israel, and Deborah is appointed a prophet. And a judge, and she has to answer the question, how do we influence those that won't listen who live in fear? And she answers it to begin with. By singing praise to God. She sings it in a way she's willing to do it, even if it is just her. To tells the nation leaders, kings of both countries, Hey, pay attention. I'm gonna praise the Lord. Then because she's a prophet, she has heard from the word of God. So she goes to a military leader named Barack. She doesn't demand, he go and fight. She says, Hey, what about what God said to you, gathering your men to go fight the Canaanites? Hasn't he promised to deliver them to you? She starts with a question, not a command. He says he'll go to battle or she'll go with him, which in these days means if they lose, she's gonna be taken captive. Dragged back to the Canaanites, and being given over to some man. She agrees to go to the battle. She's willing to stand with those who will stand with her, and then she tells Barack this interesting piece. This isn't gonna be for your glory, but this is gonna be for God's glory. Of course, the story comes out that the Lord draws the men of Canaan and their armies and their iron chariots. Bison springs, and then God sends a massive rainstorm flash, floods creates mud, the chariots sink, and of course, Israel defeats the canaanites. See, that kinda story teaches us about trust, about discernment, about what real leadership is and the wisdom that our kids need to hear and and need to live by to avoid what I'm gonna call these social mind viruses. That are running not only rampant in this country, but around the world. They need that wisdom and that wisdom comes from the scripture. The second benefit I wanna say is that these stories give us a true understanding of ourselves and the world generally. Today is divided between. Everything's a gift. Encourage everyone self-esteem before we've ever accomplished anything. Never condemn. And the other side is meritocracy in which everything is earned. The Bible teaches us a reality. We are giving gifts by God. He does deliver us in the battles and the triumphs, and they are for his glory. And yet he invites us to participate, to overcome our fears and join him in the kingdom battles. And then unlike any other king, he shares with us. The spoils of the victory. We avoid demanding, unrealistic views of what is fair or gloating at the expense of others, or pounding our own chest beyond reason. By understanding the wisdom and discernment that is contained in these scriptures about who God is, who we are, and our relationship with him. If you want joyful, confident children. These stories, our realm stories are critical.

Paul 7:09

The ultimate battle for the heart and soul is a fight for identity. Our king invites our kids to know who they are, what to believe, and where they belong.

Paul (2) 7:22

Until next time, let's remember the words for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven