That's the key point. Veggie Tales were, in my opinion, a fabulous supplement to other religious and moral guidance, one that I was happy to see my kids watching. Anyone who thought, "I've got a talking tomato and asparagus to take care of this so I don't have to mention Jesus in front of my kids or read the Bible with them," was making a silly mistake and should have known better.
“That’s the key point. Veggie Tales were, in my opinion, a fabulous supplement to other religious and moral guidance...”
Yes. As Christian parents, my wife and I were happy that there were entertainment options that reinforced the principals we were bringing our children out to church to hear. We did not look to Veggie Tales to “save” our kids (other than from the harmful effects of secularized TV). We fully knew our job was to raise our kids up for Christ (to give them back to him as Hannah did with Samuel.) Veggie Tales was fun entertainment, maybe even bringing along with it the hint that a decision to follow Christ does not mean you surrender your sense of humor.
To those who have groaned here at the idea of having “religion” crammed down their throats by parents, you’ve simply missed it. As the spiritual overseers of children’s souls, parents are charged to bring their children up under the “nurture and admonition of the Lord.” That word “nurture” is the Greek word, ‘paedeia,’ which suggests a process of total enculturation. One of the greatest challenges to confront Christian parents in contemporary society is the endless assault that the world now brings to bear on their children. Entertainment like Veggie Tales, assists parents in this battle. Public school, entertainment, indeed every aspect of popular culture is saturated with messages contradictory to the Christian call. Parents are responsible for getting their children off to a good beginning, which, for the Lord, means coming under the sound of His word. What a child does after that (when grown and fully entered into the age of accountability) is their responsibility. Parents should never apologize for “dragging” their kids out to a church meeting (unless the meeting is peddling “another gospel.” And children having grown up hearing the Word should be careful, given the ominous warning found in Hebrews 6:
“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
I waited anxiously with baited breath for Mr. Asparagus to explain the Holy Trinity and the Incarnation but came away disappointed.