There’s nobody who is quite like Fred McFeely Rogers, better known simply as Mr. Rogers of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. An ordained Presbyterian minister, Rogers’ “church” was a television screen, ministering to children and their parents through his program. Much of the content of Rogers’ show was principles straight out of Scripture. His gentle, almost bland approach was endearing to children of all ages.
During his college days, Rogers was already thinking about producing a show for children. While watching an episode of The Three Stooges, he was bothered by the fact that the moronic pranks and juvenile behavior was not only appealing to kids but could also cause them to devalue other people. There’s only so much of smashing pies in people’s faces, poking them in the eye, and hitting them in the head, butt, and gut that a person can take. Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk! Children needed better role models and lessons. Thus, the idea of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood began to take shape.
On this day in 1968, Rogers dedicated an episode to a very sensitive topic. Two days earlier, Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. Two months earlier on April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. News that interrupted television programming, newspapers, and the daily conversations revolved around the murder of these leaders. Children were not typically invited into “adult conversation” but, nevertheless overheard what was being said. Rogers was concerned that they were hearing far too much.
“In the episode, Rogers’ voices the puppet Daniel Striped Tiger, who is speaking to Lady Aberlin about blowing up a balloon. During the conversation, Daniel asks Lady Aberlin, “What does assassination mean?”
“Lady Aberlin responds, “Have you heard that word a lot today?”
“Daniel responds, “Yes, and I didn’t know what it meant.”
“Well,” says Lady Aberlin, “It means somebody getting killed, in sort of a surprise way.”
“Daniel responds, “That’s what happened, you know. That man killed the other man. Too
many people are talking about it.”
“The scene then changes to Mr. Rogers, who gently beseeches parents to protect their children.
“I plead for your protection and support of our young children. There is just so much that a very young child can take.”1
Guarding the hearts and minds of children is something we all should take very seriously. Matthew 18:10 warns us not to think little or nothing of children. “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.” Prior to this, Jesus said in Matthew 18:3-6, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (4) Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (5) And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. (6) But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”
Anything that could ruin the innocence of a child and dissuade them from trusting in Jesus is to be avoided at all costs. Those who don’t care – either they aren’t thinking or are purposefully trying to “grow up” a child too quickly – are in danger of turning a child away from the Lord. Too much or too soon exposure to the wickedness in this world is a detriment to their young minds. Innocence stolen creates hardened, jaded children.
As adults, we need to be very careful what is said around kids. While world news is factual and there’s no changing events like assassinations, do children really need to know the gory details? Our world is mesmerized by the macabre and clamors for all the nitty gritty salacious details. We don’t need to know that, much less the children.
Proverbs 4:23 gives good instruction that should be applied to adults as well as children. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/june-7/mr-rogers-episode-addressing-robert-kennedy-assassination
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