Rated Teen?

I just saw this morning that my Bible app is rated "Teen". Really? I suppose...it has prostitution, rape, homosexuality, murder...But should my children wait until they are teenagers to start reading the Bible?

NO WAY!

The problem with our world's rating system is that it only looks for the mere occurrence of these sinful actions. It doesn't look at how these sinful actions are addressed or how these sinful actions run into serious consequences. The Bible shows the true result of following your sinful desires...death, or in less severe cases, some form of dying (i.e. disease, broken relationships, hardening of hearts, being apart from God).
The real problem is the stuff we let our children watch and read (also rated Teen), but tells lies, disconnecting the sinful behaviors from their natural consequences.

They read about sex with multiple people and hear about how fun it is, but never hear about the deep pit of loneliness and insecurity you sink into by still being alone outside of marriage. The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”...That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

They see homosexuality, and never hear that they "received in themselves the due penalty for their error."

They watch dramatized stealing where the master thief gets away, and then believe that there are certain situations where it is OK to steal, where we judge others unworthy of what we should have (this is so common even without encouragement). But God described how true Christians act when He gave us The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

They see all the fun they can have with "stuff", but don't see that it never really satisfies, and leaves you groping for more. You can't have it, because God says, "the world is mine, and all that is in it." Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

They hear the funny jokes about the dumb, close-minded religious people, and never hear, "For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction."

They even watch thousands of commercials, not showing the true quality of the product, but eye candy, things not even remotely connected to the products, lying to them of a better experience than reality (no wonder we doubt everything anyone says). What will they get into if they don't know to Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. And go to God so that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Bible might be rated "Teen", but it's also rated Adult, Child, Man, Woman, Sinner, Saint, Parent, Grandparent...well, I guess you could just say rated "E" for Everyone. (but that's not as dramatic)