Children Of Darkness?

Who is the real child of darkness?

Or

I have to be totally honest with you all, I listen to Christian radio. That's right, when I'm driving alone in the car (I don't want my kids to be exposed to such dangerous absurdities) I'll occasionally switch on 90.5 FM and see what's going on amongst the deluded. Today's message was all about Ephesians 5:8

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

The minister was explaining how anyone who hasn't accepted Christ as their personal savior is a child of darkness. And you would think that common sense as well as common decency would cause the speaker to show some restraint. However, when you have God on your side those two aforementioned traits are commonly thrown to the side - such is the power of faith. The minister continued with saying that children regardless of how young they are should be considered children of darkness until they accept Jesus.

Really? 

I have to tell you, I put my kids' sense of morality toe to toe with any fundamentalist of any faith any day of the week. I'll give you an example why I feel this way. The Wife brought Will and Ali (9 and 6 years-old) to visit a relative in rehab right after Halloween. I've been to this place in the past and there are some hard luck cases there. Patients are recuperating after surgery and many of them of elderly. All of them are in discomfort. The kids brought a small stash of their holiday candy with them to gnosh on during the visit. While they were in one of the common rooms visiting the Wife's aunt, both kids went around the and offered what candy they had to the patients.

No holy book told them to do it.

They didn't do it to escape Hell.

They didn't do it to please some divine bully.

They didn't do it to convince people to worship their God.

Now, my kids aren't perfect, and I don't want to give the impression that they are. But are they children of darkness? No. That assertion that all children are dirty or of the dark are made from cults who want to dominate your children's lives.

This is Purgatory.