If you can hum the tune to every animated movie from the last thirty years, you already know the line. Right before the big finale, somebody tells the hero to follow their heart. Author and Cedarville University professor Trevin Wax says that familiar slogan is doing more work than parents realize. Speaking on CBN’s“Faith in Culture,”Wax described it as expressive individualism, a message that says your feelings are the highest authority.
Wax took it a step further, arguing that the world’s definition of freedom, doing whatever you want, is actually a form of slavery. He pointed to Romans 6:16, which says people become slaves to whatever they choose to obey. In his words, true freedom is submission to God, aligning our wants with His will rather than chasing every impulse.
Wax isn’t leaving families empty-handed. He co-authored“The Gospel Way Catechism for Kids”with Thomas West, a collection of fifty faith-centered questions designed to spark conversation at home. He also encourages biblical meditation that fills the mind with Scripture, rather than mindfulness practices that empty it. So what do you think? Have kids’movies shaped your family more than you realized?
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
