Jesus said, "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16)

"Be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." (Romans 16:19)

"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret." (Ephesians 5:11-12)

The innocence of our children is extremely precious. Once taken away, it can never be regained. I believe that as parents and a school we should endeavour to maintain our children's innocence as long as possible.

A child's innocence can be eroded all to easily by many things that surround us in the world:

• The nightly news. This has a negative world view and often has graphic descriptions of crimes that have taken place.
• Television shows portraying immorality and violence as normality.
• Movies whose heroes or heroines have moral deficiency.
• Advertisements in the same vein.
• Magazines full of gossip.
• Newspaper articles and classifieds.
• Computer games with content that is graphic or containing unsuitable themes.
• Unfiltered internet access.

But even if a parent takes steps to instruct and protect their children from such negative influences, innocence can still be robbed if they are surrounded by young people who have these influences in their life and talk about them. The daily conversation can so easily be filled with the description of one movie and television show after another. Without any censorship or parental guidance, every sordid detail is brought into the hearing of a child that would otherwise remain innocent of such evil.

It is in these types of situations that our children are forced to choose the way they will walk for themselves.

The Psalmist states:
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers." (Psalm 1:1)

Solomon wrote:
"My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them ...
my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;" (Proverbs 1:10,15)

For all the boundaries we set for our children, there comes a time when they must choose the right path for themselves. Sometimes this will mean having to walk away from a group of friends if the discussion topic is not suitable.

Ignorance does not maintain innocence. Solomon was not keeping his son ignorant of evil ways. He did not act as if evil did not exist. He told his son about the evil and the reason for staying away from it. We have to equip our youth with an understanding of the world they live in and adequately prepare them for life in it.

It is possible to do this in a way that helps them to become as "shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" through:

• Setting clear boundaries.
• Talking about the issues and the reasons for boundaries.
• Providing age-appropriate explanations. (The detail a six year old needs is very different to the needs of a fourteen year old.)
• Being a living example of life in Christ.
• Constant prayer.