Ecclesiology

Ephesians 6:4 ESV

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

1 Timothy 3:4 ESV

He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,

Titus 1:6 ESV

If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

Judges 8:21 ESV

Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “Rise yourself and fall upon us, for as the man is, so is his strength.”

Genesis 49:3,4 ESV

Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the first fruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence…

Parenting is hard. I was talking with a friend a few days ago. Since neither he nor I are good at living on Facebook this required actual talking. Listening to him brought a great amount of concern to my mind. His eldest daughter has gone the way of the world and was living with her non-Christian boyfriend. His second daughter was now moving in with the oldest and her boyfriend while she goes to school, seeming to have no moral qualms with the arrangement. I hurt for my friend. He knows the pain and hurt that is being sown into their lives, and they seem unwilling to listen or heed their parents’ petitions and pleas. I hurt with him and pray with him that God would reign in the life of his children.

Thinking and meditating on the verses above and my friends struggles lead me to some conclusions. The main being that I have not held the church in high enough regard. It’s a casual thing second nature really. As Parents raise children that are completely dependent on them, to start to assume they are the ones writing the program. As the bible clearly states they are a representative of our ability to manage our household. What of when they leave? As we read of the armor of God and the weapon we have been given on Sunday, I noted that Intelligence and Learning were gratefully not among those weapons. Yet, what is the reason our children often leave our homes? Is it not college? As parents across the country help their children decide what institutions to receive their further education from quality is often at the top of the list. Some may even choose a “Christian” college or University, hoping to encourage further spiritual development.

In all of this what place do we give to finding a strong, discipling, Church? At least in my thinking I must admit little to none. Either as I prepared my self to go to college or as I looked to the future of preparing my children. The assumption that a strong, biblically faithful, discipling, church would be present where ever I went, and that I and my children at the ripe old age of 18 would be able to recognize and find said church. Creating the idea and impression that good churches are a dime a dozen and church is an after thought to more important issues like: dorms, intramural sports, NCAA sports, national rankings, majors, new buildings, fraternal organizations… 

This shifted focus onto the church, brings with it renewed scrutiny. Are we as individuals active in the spiritual development of other believers? I say it this way because the active discipling of young and old alike is what prepares those who leave us, young and old alike, for continued faithfulness with the expectation of development in Christ. Find someone to help grow, find someone who will push you to grow, and watch God move mountains!

CRUCE, DUM SPIRO, FIDO