Children Serving, Labouring, Working, Witnessing, etc. for the Lord

[Bro. Williams]

I was recently (ignorantly) chastised by a member on this board for promoting children serving the Lord.

I did not address the issue on that thread because it did not belong there.

I would like to address the issue now. The member stated that:

With all due respect, Bro. W, when I go to your link and see pictures like this, well...it is just so wrong on so many levels.

Included after this quote was a picture of some children ministering and witnessing for the Lord which can be found on our website under the "About My Father's Business" book link. (which is free online so I am not promoting it for $)


First of all, the response to the pic wasn't meant with respect, that is obvious. Secondly, what is wrong with it?

What is wrong with children serving the Lord?

 

[SaggyWoman]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with children serving the Lord. We visited shut ins, did mission trips, had them visiting people in the hospital and not in the hospital. Children are Christians and gifted too.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

I was recently (ignorantly) chastised by a member on this board for promoting children serving the Lord.

First of all, calling me ignorant is an ad hominem and a board violation.
Secondly, I didn't say children can't serve the Lord. I criticized very young children being sent out screaming and preaching at passersby.

I did not address the issue on that thread because it did not belong there.

And so you could misrepresent my comments and frame them to suit your self, away from the context of the other dialog.

Nice move. NOT.

 

[Bro. Williams]

First of all, calling me ignorant is an ad hominem and a board violation.

I said I was ignorantly chastised, not that you were ignorant yourself. There is quite a difference you know.

Secondly, I didn't say children can't serve the Lord. I criticized very young children being sent out screaming and preaching at passersby.

Children shouldn't preach? Is there a volume level that is only honored by God? Was the child screaming?

And so you could misrepresent my comments and frame them to suit your self, away from the context of the other dialog.

I quoted you verbatim, no "framing". Beyond that, I didn't include who you were so as not to bring direct condemnation to you. You are welcome to present the link to the other thread so it can be read by all if you so desire.

Nice move. NOT.

Which one? You should choose one or the other.

 

[SaggyWoman]

Actually, I don't think anyone should yell and scream at passersby. I hate to be yelled and screamed at. I sure would not promote that.

 

[SaggyWoman]

Bro. Williams,

I saw the picture at your website of the children on the street holding signs. What are they supposed to be doing?

How is it children serving the Lord?

 

[Magnetic Poles]

I quoted you verbatim, no "framing". Beyond that, I didn't include who you were so as not to bring direct condemnation to you. You are welcome to present the link to the other thread so it can be read by all if you so desire.

Your quote lacks the entirety of my comments through the other thread. Just so everyone sees the sickening photo you refer to, here it is:

The boys are particularly very young, and this only demonstrates taking children who are too young to think critically, and dressing them up like little evangelists and sending them out on the dangerous streets. Looks like the younger is about 3 and the boy with the bible, hollering at the passersby is maybe 5. These kids should be playing, not being used as tools by adults, no matter how well meaning. These kids probably cannot even read, much less comprehend, the book they are waving.

No wonder people think Christians are kooks. Some obviously are! Do they handle rattlesnakes as well?

**Moderator note** Icon deleted---BB rules state that icons cannot exceed size of Baptist Board logo

 

[Bro. Williams]

There is a difference in yelling/screaming in comparison to using a loud strong voice to cleary let your voice be heard for some distance. Volume and dynamics do not have to mean screaming.

 

[Bro. Williams]

Your quote lacks the entirety of my comments through the other thread. Just so everyone sees the sickening photo you refer to, here it is:

The boys are particularly very young, and this only demonstrates taking children who are too young to think critically, and dressing them up like little evangelists and sending them out on the dangerous streets. Looks like the younger is about 3 and the boy with the bible, hollering at the passersby is maybe 5. These kids should be playing, not being used as tools by adults, no matter how well meaning. These kids probably cannot even read, much less comprend, the book they are waving.

No wonder people think Christians are kooks. Some obviously are! Do they handle rattlesnakes as well?

Of course my post lacks what you said through the whole thread, it is not a practice of mine to quote whole threads. Secondly, I quoted what you stated directly to me, not your conversation with others.

Sickening photo? Shame.

I see a boy preaching, if it is to be considered hollering as well, Amen.

A five year old not knowing how to read? It is about time he starts!

Christians are peculiar (or at least supposed to).

The difference is, you want them to be seen as normal by the Lord. We want them to be bold witnesses for Christ no matter what the world (or conforming Christians) think.

We stay away from rattlesnakes, too many lawsuits.

 

[Bro. Williams]

BTW, thanks for posting the pic again, it sure is a blessing to my heart. amen and amen.

 

[Rufus_1611]

Your quote lacks the entirety of my comments through the other thread. Just so everyone sees the sickening photo you refer to, here it is:

The boys are particularly very young, and this only demonstrates taking children who are too young to think critically, and dressing them up like little evangelists and sending them out on the dangerous streets. Looks like the younger is about 3 and the boy with the bible, hollering at the passersby is maybe 5. These kids should be playing, not being used as tools by adults, no matter how well meaning. These kids probably cannot even read, much less comprehend, the book they are waving.

No wonder people think Christians are kooks. Some obviously are! Do they handle rattlesnakes as well?

**Personal attack removed**

 

[webdog]

Using children as pawns is sickening. How many 3 year olds can grasp salvation? Come on! Should someone who hasn't had a salvation experience be preaching in the first place?

 

[Joe]

Using children as pawns is sickening. How many 3 year olds can grasp salvation? Come on! Should someone who hasn't had a salvation experience be preaching in the first place?

Exactly!! That picture is disturbing. Thanks for posting it MP

 

[Rufus_1611]

Using children as pawns is sickening. How many 3 year olds can grasp salvation? Come on! Should someone who hasn't had a salvation experience be preaching in the first place?

You nor MP knows anything about that photo. You don't know that the child is 3 years old, you don't even know that the children even go to Battlefield. Beyond that, there is nothing wrong with a Christian family preaching the gospel on the street and the youngest among them holding up a sign.

A mighty man has arrows for a purpose...

"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth." - Psalm 127:4​

A Christian man is responsible for training up children. Perhaps, if he is training his children to go soul winning when they are young, they will go soul winning when they are old...

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6​

 

[Bro. Williams]

Bro. Williams,

I saw the picture at your website of the children on the street holding signs. What are they supposed to be doing?

They are preaching and promoting scripture. Also, they are not supposedly doing it, they are doing it.

How is it children serving the Lord?

How is it not? WHen a grownup preaches and promotes scripture it is serving the Lord.

 

[Bro. Williams]

Using children as pawns is sickening.

I couldn't agree more, unless of course it was the Lord using those children as pawns, then I am thankful for it.

How many 3 year olds can grasp salvation?

I'm not sure... I don't know a lot of 3 year olds. Should we start a poll?

Come on!

Where to?

Should someone who hasn't had a salvation experience be preaching in the first place?

If they are preaching the gospel I have no issue with it. BTW, how do you know the boy preaching isn't saved?

 

[Bro. Williams]

Exactly!! That picture is disturbing. Thanks for posting it MP

Children serving the Lord in the example of their parents is disturbing?

I bet you all would hate the picture of my 2 year old passing out tracts at the super market! You would probably even claim I was a bad parent for letting him hold a sign while street preaching!

 

[Magnetic Poles]

I bet you all would hate the picture of my 2 year old passing out tracts at the super market!

Hate is a strong word. I certainly would not hate your child. He/She is innocent, trying to please a parent.

You would probably even claim I was a bad parent for letting him hold a sign while street preaching!

Bingo!

 

[tinytim]

Are the children saved? Have they made a profession of faith?
If not... they are wrong...

How effective is it to have young children on the streets...
Sounds as if you are sending out the children to do the adult's job.

My child would not be standing there...
Nor would they attend your church.

Children need to be children... not pawns in the hands of over zealous Christians.
Christ said to let the little children come to him... not go scream at sinners...

You are misusing a gift that God has given you.. children.
Appreciate them.. don't use them!

 

[moondg]

Well said Tim.:thumbs: :godisgood: