It was fascinating to observe; one creature against another. One, who is generally considered beautiful to behold and peacefully serene to watch, and the other considered a noisier, messier annoyance by many who live near the water. You see, the Mute swan had made its nest in this vicinity, and the Canadian goose had dared to land within the nesting territory, and that was not okay by the swan’s judgment. So he gave chase to protect the nest, continuing to go after the goose meter by meter until he left. The honking, the wing flapping, the continual effort went on for fifteen minutes because the goose was quite determined to come back, but the swan would have none of it. The ‘fight’ for territory continued until the swan felt the goose was a safe distance from the nest.
The instinct to protect is natural and given to us from birth- creation even. Parents of most species are known for protecting their young, and human parents belong in that category. Just watch all the parents race to the school to defend their youngins from a threat. I’ve watched as they storm through the door into the office already steaming, and vociferously demand to see the principal. There’s been a problem and the parent is here to fight! Defending the territory comes with parenthood.
As Christians, we set aside this part of our nature deeming it to be beneath our dignity or even against our perceptions of Biblical behaviour, when in reality, standing up for righteousness is one of our jobs. (Many great ‘men of faith’ stood up for righteousness in their day; Moses, Noah, the prophets…) Instead, we calmly stand by and watch as society brings garbage items to see (movies, magazines), to hear (currant music lyrics), and to play (violent video games- some with sexual overtones) into our children’s lives. We are no longer fighting to keep our children safe from harm. It’s too hard, and we’ve given up. Somehow we’ve gotten the impression that our protection of them is only from physical harm, and we’ve stopped fighting to clear the dangers from our territory.
I think we should start fighting against the sin and value degradation around us. The least we could do is voice our opinions in society like when the government or schools remove prayer, or when they allow inappropriate activities to happen within ‘our borders’. We should not be passive parents in this culture, but raise our voices (even if ignored) until someone, somewhere listens. Also, we need to lift up our children in prayer for there is a spiritual battle taking place over their lives in this world, and we should be proactive in defending our spiritual territory.
Is it worth it? Can the battles even be won? It is not our job to worry about the outcome, only to stand up for what is right. For instance, another U.S.
I am just as guilty at being the typical passive parent, and I need to change that. For now I’m going to start fighting harder over the spiritual territory around us. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph. As parents, we are to lead by example, and what kind of example are we to our children when we passively accept the sin and unrighteousness of society to reign? Let us all begin to fight for the territory around us and make a difference in the world, and in our children’s lives.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Eph. 6:11
As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.
Pr. 25:26 ASV
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Is. 1:17
Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness… Jer. 22:3
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. Pr. 31:8,9