I guess I was nominated by the elders to serve the church because they have spent their thoughts on various topics and need fresh blood to continue the blog. It’s tempting to say that this has happened because these young pups haven’t learned to pace themselves, but in truth everyone is being “overtaken by events”, or OBE as an old friend of mine liked to say.

With some reluctance, I will toss out a few comments on this recent topic of submission. Many good things have been said already by my fellow elders. Keith asked the question primarily in reference to children and then additionally about wives. Regarding children, I think the most important thing to teach them is obedience. Shepherding a Child’s Heart is a good book for new or prospective parents and helpfully reminds us that the first and most important thing for children to learn is to obey their parents. Honor of course comes along with obedience. Obeying your parents is a Biblical command, but scripture shows us that this relationship between parent and child is unque in that the parent has a position akin to “creator” over their child. There is responsibility for the one created and an honor due to the one creating.

I think the church can best support parents and families not by bending herself to conform to the support of the family (some Evangelicals seem to approximate something like an Asian worship of the family itself) but by teaching the whole of scripture. For example, don’t cancel a Sunday evening service on Easter so that members can have time with their families. Instead, meet and learn of Christ who is the firstborn of the new creation, and as such has a position of honor over the church . . .

Posted in Family & Parenting |