An interesting piece of news came to our attention last week, with the editor of a German newspaper apologizing to children for his publication’s coverage of the pandemic. Julian Reichelt, editor of Bild, said he was sorry for causing children to be fearful, telling them they would “murder their grandma” if they met with friends or family. 

The Progressive Left has made no secret of its desire to affect wholesale change in society by targeting kids. Before the burden of making sure you’re woke enough was put on youngsters, “eco-anxiety” was reported in children, with the coverage of child climate activist, Greta Thunberg, painting a very bleak future for the planet.

Abigail Shrier recently wrote an essay on the hopeful tone being set by the political campaign of JD Vance. Noting that children are being taught that there is nothing good about America, she says that we could all stand to hear something positive. In a thought provoking line, she writes “Is there any more damning indicator of a culture than that it produces hopeless children?” 

Mad Christians are familiar with the ways that the white noise can break down our hope, making every news cycle feel urgent, every corruption of morality inevitable, and the undermining of truth with confusion, ubiquitous. This is true for us; it’s also true for our children. 

Yet our hope is real, guaranteed by Christ himself. Teaching children that the world is not all roses can be a daunting task, but we can pray for wisdom. Rev. Fisk’s advice on this subject (around the 41 minute mark) is the same for children as for adults who find their hope is fading: turn to the Psalter, learn the Creeds and hear the red-letter promises of Jesus. The writer to the Hebrews reminds us of Christ’s words to his people “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say:

“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?” 

Alleluia.