Opus 2012-221, Discernment Watch: It’s for the Children

How about another Alistair Begg moment?  I can’t help it.  He challenges me and makes me think whether I agree with him or not. 

I was listening on the way to work and I heard this, “Don’t get this silly idea in your head that the future of the church is the children, the future is you.”  I backed the podcast up to make sure I heard it right.

I don’t remember what his context was but the point was painful and welcome.  As a public school teacher I am used to people making any compromise and approve any expenditure if it is “for the children.”  Usually this is just a distraction to avoid thinking and dealing with hard issues.  Money is wasted and lives are destroyed so that people can feel like they are doing good.  This thinking makes people think they are taking penicillin when all they are taking is an aspirin. 

Children will only be the future if they are raised properly.  They will only be the future if you and I are there to lead them into it.  That requires us to accept the responsibility that goes with being a mature adult.  It requires sacrifice on our part today so there will be supplies tomorrow.

Thinking that children are the future is often a way of avoiding hard choices today.  It lets the wants and demands of the child be the measure of wisdom and priorities.  Picture what the future would be in your family is your five year old were allowed to do the shopping, plan the menu and schedule the baths. 

The future would not be pretty.

homo unius libri