In this thought provoking article by our guest author, Anita Staver, President of Liberty Counsel, we are reminded that the secular media can have a damaging influence upon our children. Many of you may remember Anita's husband, Mat Staver founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, who spoke at our client appreciation dinner several years ago.

Liberty Counsel provides pro bono legal assistance in the areas of religious liberty, the sanctity of human life and the traditional family. Educational material available through Liberty Counsel includes informational brochures addressing students' and teachers' rights on public school campuses, political activity of nonprofit organizations, and many more. Please consider visiting their website at www.lc.org.

Which of you fathers will give your son a snake if he asks for a fish? Luke 11:11

Christmas 2007 will bring more shopping challenges for parents than ever before. The scare over the level of lead in children's toys manufactured in China has forced parents to carefully consider the safety of what they purchase.

Of course, we should be concerned about lead-painted toys - but we should be much more alarmed about the toxic content of today's music, books, games and movies!

Movies, television, electronic games and other media products are powerful cultural influences. Parents who would never knowingly poison their children's bodies nevertheless fail to protect them from a far greater threat. They unthinkingly turn their children over to humanists who are masters at concealing a secular agenda in an entertaining package.

Once children are captivated by an interesting story, their minds cannot avoid anti-Christian messages cleverly embedded by secular authors. Parents should be aware that even subtle messages will deeply impact an impressionable young person's worldview.

Here's a leading current example: Many parents assume that the popular Harry Potter fiction books and movies are harmless fantasy. Yet not only does the series promote witchcraft, which God expressly says He hates, but author J.K. Rowling has blithely admitted that the series is "a prolonged argument for tolerance."

Of course, "tolerance" is a modern code word for accepting, among other ungodly ideas and practices, the homosexual agenda. Rowling recently announced to a group of cheering Harry Potter fans at Carnegie Hall that a prominent master wizard in her books is homosexual. She also advises youth to "question authority."

Parents who allow their kids to consume attractively packaged poison like this should not be shocked when their little "Potterheads" question parental authority and then start to believe that it is normal for boys to date boys.

As the secularists continue to spew out toxic motion pictures at ever-increasing levels, we can be grateful that family-friendly alternatives are available. One such recent release is The Ten Commandments, a quality animated film from Promenade Pictures.

I saw the film at a recent church screening and was delighted to hear the message of God's love and see the example of Moses' humility. As a trained psychologist and concerned grandmother, I took particular interest in watching the reactions of the children in the audience. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves as they absorbed the wholesome content presented in very engaging images.

Liberty Counsel has joined with Promenade Pictures to promote this film, because we know that the Bible changes lives. The Ten Commandments are a vital part of this Nation's history and have greatly impacted the notions of right and wrong in our society. Even more important, the recognition of God's law is a crucial step toward every child's awareness of sin and the need for personal salvation.

Of course, the Bible contains a great number of powerful stories with positive role models - a humble Moses, an obedient Noah, a faithful King David, and countless others that should be promoted through the powerful medium of motion picture entertainment.

Promenade Pictures has done just that. They plan to release "Noah's Ark - The New Beginning" next year and follow that with ten more biblically based movies in their "Epic Stories of the Bible" series.

Parents should choose films like these instead of the anti-Christian propaganda and seductive filth that is far too prevalent today. The best gift parents can give their children is a biblical worldview, which can then be reinforced by family-friendly movies, music, games and books.

This Christmas, let's avoid giving our children and grandchildren poisonous media gifts, using the same loving care that we exhibit in not giving toxic toys to toddlers.

An Additional Note From Christian Financial Principles

At Christian Financial Principles, we encourage you to take a stand against poisonous media by refusing to support them through your investments, either directly or through your mutual funds. If you haven't already done so, take advantage of our free moral audit of your investments. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. - Ephesians 5:11 (ESV)