This is something we tell our children at all the time -furthermore, we go the extra length to protect them, to watch over them. We remind them all the time (everyday): “don’t talk to strangers”, “do not receive anything from strangers”, “no one else should pick you up from school”.

The television, internet and news are filled with crazy murder stories, rapes, child pornography, wars and other violent cases. At home we would not know because we do not have cable-TV, but we do have Netflix, Disney Channel and Pureflix. Short story: A few months ago, a Bell salesperson came knocking to our door; selling us a new optical cable internet (I already have the fastest in the area). His biggest pitch was the TV -but we do not want TV, and we expressed that to him. He would not take a NO for an answer, this guy was resilient and persistent. Kept selling me the benefit of having hundreds of TV stations. Anyways, no cable-TV for us, he left disappointed.

We don’t want the see our children being hurt or making mistakes, therefore we prepare them to deal with the world. The city -the world in general, is filled with strangers. We ourselves are considered strangers to other people. We could be considered a possible threat to others, people who don’t know us. Imagine if I would walk around with these labels; “I have been in jail”, “I have been in a treatment center”, “I abandoned my children”, “I have been charged for burglary” and so. I tell you, I would be marginalized, put aside, rejected, expelled, kicked out perhaps.

Nowadays, our culture is very bad; strong and vulgar language, no respect for each other, no love for our parents. What is even worse is that this type of culture has become natural, the new normal. Our tolerance has stretched to the point that these things are acceptable, when in reality they are not. I remember the days when women would not dare swear, but these days the ‘F’ word is at their tip of their tongues. This happens on the streets, work and even at home, from a concierge job to the highest paid job. From the homeless person to the most educated professional and even to a nursing mother.

As a Christian’s we are supposed to draw back from these types of people. In 2 Corinthians 6:14 we read “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.” 1 Timothy 4 title reads “Beware of false teachers: warn your people”. But then, I realized that I would be hanging out just with my wife and a number of good friends; that is NOT was Jesus commanded us. The bible also tells us also to go out ‘into’ the world and preach the good news of salvation. Mark 16:15 tells us “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” So, I cannot excuse myself and life in the boonies by myself and my God. No, we are stuck in here, we have a job to do, we need to tell others what God has done in our lives.

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