Satan's Statue and the Target on Children

I live in Michigan and our news has been covering the presentation of a one-ton statue of Satan at a Satanist temple in Detroit. It may not have made the news where you live, but it has received a fair amount of coverage where I live. This statue is rather large and while, to me, it is disturbing to think anyone would want to make a statue of Satan, the most disturbing feature of this statue is how it has two young children on either side of "Satan" looking at him lovingly. More than disturbing. This is just evil and vile.

Regardless of the message the makers of this statue are trying to communicate (and they actually had long lines of people who traveled specifically to see this statue at its opening), they have sadly identified (perhaps without even realizing it) how children are truly a main "target" of Satan. If he can get children to turn away from God, not even necessarily turn specifically to him, but just away from God, then he has a higher chance of keeping them.

It may be easy for us to become distracted, or even complacent, as we serve in children's ministry. There are so many things to take our attention. But, it truly matters what we do. We can not become distracted. We must be focused. We must be intentional. We must understand we are truly in a battle for these little ones.

This is why it matters what we do. It matters if our ministries are focused and effective. It matters if we do not become distracted from what really matters - helping children understand God's Word is for them, God loves them, they can love God back, and they can know and walk with God. It matters if we are engaging, equipping and encouraging parents and grandparents to pass on a heritage of faith. These things matter.

So, rather than being shocked, appalled or upset about this statue, we can use it to remind ourselves of how much Satan really does want to "get" children to follow him - whether it is overtly as satanists or as people who are deceived by the world and who have not accepted God's gift of grace.

We are in a battle for the children; stay focused. Stay intentional. Engage parents and grandparents. The children matter too much for us to not do these things.