Luke 17:1-2 — Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

So maybe I should warn you — I have to let of some steam about something I’m really disgusted about.
So I know I’m getting old(er). But when I was young, adults were, on the whole, concerned to take care of children. Now, in so many ways, it seems that care has been forgotten. Let me give you a couple of examples that struck me just today.
First, let’s talk about “F-Bombs for Feminism” is also catching flack because of its source. A company called fckh8.com that makes it’s money by selling T-shirts with anti-sexism, anti-racism and LGBT (if you don’t know what that is, be happy!) equality messages has just produced and distributed a video advertisement that is about as exploitative as I can imagine. Five little girls, aged from six to thirteen, in princess dresses and tiaras, are featured asking questions about women’s equality.
“What’s so bad about that?”, you might ask. You mean apart from the political exploitation of children? How about the eighteen expletives (including the fifteen uses of the “f” word) that have been put in the mouth of those precious children.
“Of course,” you might say, “you can expect that from people like that”. But how about Pfizer?
Pfizer are running an ad for one of their best known products. A beautiful woman in a blue dress speaks to camera: “So guys, it’s just you and your honey. The setting is perfect. But then erectile dysfunction happens again.” Like I said — I’m getting old, and there are some things I don’t want plastered over my TV at any time. But this was an advertisement about this very personal topic– broadcast in prime time. It brought this plaintive post from a medical researcher (ironically, one who gets some funding from Pfizer), “My 11 year old daughter just asked what the Viagra ad was about. Not sure how to respond especially now that she knows I work for Pfizer.” Where was the thought for children in the decision to run that advertisement at that time?
Politicians … Businesses … anybody with no care for children … I think Jesus is going to be pretty mad with them. I know my scripture choice is not just about children, but about new believers too, but I know it’s one of many texts that show how much Jesus cared for children.
It’s time we started taking childhood back for children.