Children and Church

While I was in Israel last summer, our friend who was also our tour guide shared the following historical excerpt with us (I also heard it in a sermon at my church a few weeks ago as well).

During Biblical times, the lambs used for the Passover sacrifice for each family were actually brought into the Jewish homes for 2 weeks. The main reason for this was so that the family could make absolutely certain that the lamb was without any blemish whatsoever. But there is another reason why they did that as well. During the time the lambs were in the homes, it's pretty safe to say that the Jewish children in those homes probably named those lambs, played with them, maybe even slept with them on their sleeping mats. After those 2 weeks with the lamb, the father would come and take the lamb and slaughter it and spread its blood on the doorposts of the house, and then the father would cook it and the family would eat it. When the lamb was taken away, killed, and subsequently cooked for the Passover meal, it's probably safe to assume that the children were full of questions. See Exodus 12:26-27.

This is very applicable today. I believe it's essential for children to be in church, during the church service. At what age I'm not sure. But as young as possible, as soon as possible. Children need to see their parents in church. Worshipping, praying, tithing, taking the sacraments, giving of their money in the offering plate. They see it, and they'll ask questions. They may not understand the sermon, and they might be bored, but they will see the bride of Christ coming together to worship God faithfully every week. They'll ask why you eat bread and drink wine and what it means. They'll ask why you gave money to the church when earlier in the week you denied buying them something they wanted because you didn't have the money. They'll see a fellowship and body of believers worship and pray together. It's exactly like Exodus 12.

The alternative is unfortunately entertainment far too many times. I've even heard of some churches that have video games and x-boxes in their children's areas, or massive play areas with mazes of slides and playground type equipment. So the kids play for most of the time, then hear a 5 minute lesson on Daniel in the lion's den, and it's over. The kids then, of course, love "church" and parents are pleased. Many parents are just content that "their kids are in church" on Sunday. This is not Biblical. And it starts a pattern in the hearts and minds of the children that entertainment equals church...which a lot of the time carries into church preference and the church model they search for in adulthood.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 or 11:18-21. The teaching of God and of Biblical principles and stories to children should for the most part take place in the home. It doesn't as often as it should, of course, but that's how it should be. I have no problem with some church children's ministries, but when it replaces an intentional liturgical service, as I believe they should be, then it's very harmful. Instead of the child seeing their parents and their church body worshipping the Lord and taking the bread and the wine and loving their Savior, they're playing on slides and playing Nintendo... and loving every second of it.

Gatlinburg

I was in Gatlinburg, TN, earlier this week. It's a cross of Red River, Breckinridge, and Branson (on steroids). Dollywood is in Gatlinburg. It even has a Hard Rock Cafe, a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum, and a restauraunt in which everything, include the front facade, is upside-down.

It's nestled in the Smokey Mountains, and they were pretty smoky (it was very humid). That John Denver was NOT full of shi....

I walked around Gatlinburg for a few hours one evening and saw a lot of interesting things. I saw a huge lady on a huge Harley with a NASCAR tank top on. I saw a lot of old people. I saw a pair of underwear in a shop window that said "Natural Gas Producer" on it. I saw a lot of Dolly (Parton). A lot of Dolly.

I'd like to go back to Gatlinburg someday. I hear it's rather stunning during fall foliage.

Russian Doug, perhaps?

I wouldn't mess with this guy, though. He just solved one of the seven impossible math problems, as distinguished by the International Mathematics Union. The problem is called the 'Poincare conjecture'. Look it up.

I think he looks like Doug. A "crazy, locked himself up in a tiny office for 3 years solving a math problem about spheres in regard to 3 dimentional shapes" Doug.

Purpose Driven Fox

Dr. Rick Warren was on "Fox and Friends" the other day. An interactive show on Fox News in which light interviews are held on air and the studio audience can ask questions and get involved. The topic of the program this particular day was roughly, "Where is God when it comes to terrorism, or hurricanes, or the Ramsey murder?"

Warren (hailed as the spokesman for American Christianity, and rightly so, perhaps, with his book that has sold more than 25 million copies) was asked on the show to provide spiritual insight into the above question. Where is God when a tragedy occurs? His answer was, and I roughly quote, "It's not like God plans for any tragedy to happen. He didn't plan 9/11. He doesn't plan for any bad things to happen. Rather, he turns those bad things into good." God, the great magician, basically. He then went on to say that evil is in the world because of freewill. If freewill (man's choice, primarily for salvation) was revoked, we'd all be puppets. True love can only be love by choice, he said. So to maintain the free choice to choose him, therein lies the free choice to commit evil...thus, 9/11 and the murder of little girls.

At least all his arguments are consistent. You have to give him that.

What is it within us that wants to hold onto the concept of freewill so incredibly tightly (whether it is right or wrong)? What is it within us that wants to keep the sovereignty and authority in our own hands? Why is it so hard to truly believe Romans 3, or Romans 9? A friend of mine offered some good insight. Picture someone floating in the water during a powerful storm, literally drowning in the torrential rain. That person looks up and sees the ark. Does he then think to himself, "Thank you Lord, for my freewill. Thank you for allowing me to choose this." Surely not.

It pains me to see Dr. Warren, one of the most influential men in America (Christian or not) go on television and speak like this. The people in the audience were full of good questions, but the answers they received were just putty. In everything bad, God creates a good. It's easy to believe that until something bad happens to you. Reducing God to a circumstantial magician won't help anyone.

What if God formulates/allows tragedy, sickness, etc. to show us, His children, our sin. To show us our natural depravity, and therefore require us to give him more glory for his grace? I believe that before believing he just blindly goes about letting anything and everything happen outside of His sovereign control. That would truly be a frightening reality.

Fence on the border faux pas

The 'fence on the border faux pas' is this: Congress (the right side, also the more numerous side) voted to build a fence on the southern border a few months ago, when the immigration stuff was an issue. Everyone loved them for it (at least those that agreed with the bill, me not being one of them), and they basked in the warmth of their admiration and adoration.

A few weeks ago, however, they voted down the appropriations bill that would have provided the funds to build the fence (I don't think the public, the red public, heard about that).

I know the other side (the left, blue ones) have pulled the same type of deceptions and will do the same in the future, but I'm just sick of it. There's no accountability. Maybe if the red ones (and blue ones) get voted out, future Congresses won't pull that crap.

When's it going to stop?

V

Saw V for Vendetta the other night. Good flick.

I need to see it again, I think, to fully grasp the meaning and aim of the film. But it's pretty palpable already.

It contained a pretty blatant rhetorical attack on the conservative right...and what's funny is that I'm okay with that.

I think the minimum wage issue and fence on the border faux pas did it for me. The lesser of two weavels, or evils, is probably what I'll go for in the next election.