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I wanted to share the beauty of the Gospel and the beauty of children. When the twain meet it is a glorious thing.
The truth as expressed in basic bible doctrines grabs you. Some people gasp and twist away. Others sit absorbed, never being able to get enough. The entire book of Acts is an ode to the transforming power of truth. But make no mistake, either way, the Gospel affects people. They either “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” because they do not want to submit to the Creator (Romans 1:18) or they accept it on faith and receive eternal joy through the indwelling Spirit while on earth or in glory by being with the Savior. The reactions run one or the other. People respond... 1 Peter 1:23 it is the truth that saves us. "For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God."
I have found that it is the children who are the most attentive and joyous when listening to the truth. I've taught children in afternoon bible clubs, evening bible clubs, all kinds of bible clubs and in my experience, the children are immediately heedful of the import. They sit open mouthed, rapt, listening, eager for more. They ask questions, sophisticated ones. They want to know.
The unsaved, whom we call the lost because they are stumbling around in the dark, lost from the only path that will take them to heaven, deride children's bible lessons. They claim Christian adults "indoctrinate" them. That is rubbish for two reasons. First, ALL adults indoctrinate their children. 'Indoctrinate' simply means "To instruct in a body of doctrine or principles." All parents do that because all parents teach their children the difference between right and wrong as they see it. Another definition is "To imbue with a partisan or ideological point of view' which again, all parents do with their children either overtly and directly, or by default with the child 'picking up; the mores of their parents by observation and imitation. It is what parents are supposed to do and it is what it means 'to raise children.'
Secondly, anyone who has seen a classroom of children learning about Jesus has seen pure joy. No, THIS is indoctrination:
The power of the word of God is the most powerful thing on earth or heaven. When that power is introduced to a child's heart, it is a match literally made in heaven. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew19:14). It is interpreted to mean first that Jesus had a real soft spot for children. He takes notice of all believers, and would not overlook even the smallest and least noticeable such as a child. Children have exactly the attitude needed for approaching God; joy and acceptance of the truth as it pierces their heart (instead of refusal, pride, and rejection). The receptiveness of children was a huge contrast to the stubbornness of the Pharisees. Children respond to the power of the Gospel because they know it is the truth, and whenever that happens it is a beautiful thing to be part of.
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The truth as expressed in basic bible doctrines grabs you. Some people gasp and twist away. Others sit absorbed, never being able to get enough. The entire book of Acts is an ode to the transforming power of truth. But make no mistake, either way, the Gospel affects people. They either “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” because they do not want to submit to the Creator (Romans 1:18) or they accept it on faith and receive eternal joy through the indwelling Spirit while on earth or in glory by being with the Savior. The reactions run one or the other. People respond... 1 Peter 1:23 it is the truth that saves us. "For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God."
I have found that it is the children who are the most attentive and joyous when listening to the truth. I've taught children in afternoon bible clubs, evening bible clubs, all kinds of bible clubs and in my experience, the children are immediately heedful of the import. They sit open mouthed, rapt, listening, eager for more. They ask questions, sophisticated ones. They want to know.
The unsaved, whom we call the lost because they are stumbling around in the dark, lost from the only path that will take them to heaven, deride children's bible lessons. They claim Christian adults "indoctrinate" them. That is rubbish for two reasons. First, ALL adults indoctrinate their children. 'Indoctrinate' simply means "To instruct in a body of doctrine or principles." All parents do that because all parents teach their children the difference between right and wrong as they see it. Another definition is "To imbue with a partisan or ideological point of view' which again, all parents do with their children either overtly and directly, or by default with the child 'picking up; the mores of their parents by observation and imitation. It is what parents are supposed to do and it is what it means 'to raise children.'
Secondly, anyone who has seen a classroom of children learning about Jesus has seen pure joy. No, THIS is indoctrination:
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Such a beautiful post, and it's so true! Marcel and Luka love to hear about Jesus, and Marcel just so purely and simply believes. He tells everyone he meets about Jesus, too. No qualms, no reservations. It's so amazing.
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