As most of you know, over the past couple of Sundays we have started a new series in the book of 1 Samuel. The book begins with the birth narrative of Samuel. That has afforded us the opportunity to think about our families and in particular the relationship between mothers and their children. Last Sunday I spoke on my concern about the church’s approach to ministering to children. I plan to say this publically on this coming Sunday morning, but I also wanted to address it here. I want to apologize for something I said in that discussion of children and hopefully clarify. In discussing children’s church at one point I said it was, “of the devil.” I regret that I used that phrase and would sincerely like to retract it. As a preacher speaking as often as I do publically, a person is bound to say something they regret. Although I do stand by my position that children’s church is not the best option for a congregation, that is not the same as being evil or “of the devil.” Something can be less than the best and not be evil.
I also wanted to take this opportunity to clarify that my feelings toward children needing to be in the congregation is not to be taken as a condemnation of the important ministry to children. It is entirely good and appropriate for children to have several opportunities to hear the truth of God’s word in a way they understand and is meaningful to them. I am so thankful for the work that Stephenie and so many others do week in and week out to meet the needs of our children. I simply think the best option for the Lord’s Day morning corporate worship includes children worshipping with their families. I want you to yet again here me clearly that our children are a precious blessing to our church. They do not yet understand or appreciate how blessed they are to belong to families and a church that saturates them with Jesus. Mason Stokes and Adalynn Schwaderer are both examples of the joy that fills a family and congregation at the earliest stages of a new life. We are just getting to know them, but I am excited to watch them grow. Alec Shaw and Maggie Stokes are both coming into their own special personalities. Both are happy little ones that make me smile every time I see them. Hannah Boyd and Karis Hooker are both at a stage where they are recognizing that they live with little boys and if they want to get what they need, they have to be assertive, sometimes even aggressive. Of course, Abram Hooker is one of those brothers who keeps his sister on her toes. Ava Kaneshiro is always ready for a smile and a hug. Stephen Stokes is … well, I’ll just leave it at he is beyond description! Adin Shaw and Catelyn Steele have both become my good friends and they never have a shortage of things to tell you. Chloe Martin-Vegue has the sweetest smile of innocence and love I think I have ever seen. And Grayson Kaneshiro may be the smartest almost 6 year old I have ever seen. All of these are the sweetest little sinners!! Yes, they are sinners, but thank God they will hear the gospel in their families and at Oak Crest. In Christ, Blain Craig
0 Comments
Do you suffer from “chronological snobbery?” Well I am sure you weren’t diagnosed with that at your last check-up, but it is likely that all of us have been guilty of chronological snobbery at some point or another. That is a phrase coined by C.S. Lewis to describe the idea that only newer is better. He was particularly talking about newer learning and reading, but really the idea applies to many areas of life.
Consider this quote by Lewis: “It’s a good rule after reading a new book never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at least read one old one to three new ones....Every age has its own outlook. It is especially good at seeing certain truths and especially liable to make certain mistakes. We all therefore need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period.... None of us can fully escape this blindness, but we shall certainly increase it, and weaken our guard against it, if we read only modern books....The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds and this can only be done by reading old books.” Ah, the “clean sea breeze of the centuries,” you don’t hear that language these days. That is precisely the point Lewis is making. We need the insight of those who have gone before. This is especially important in the Christian life. We are prone to think, “I have my Bible that is all I need.” Well, yes, nothing compares to the Bible, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn a great deal from believers from the past. I want to challenge you to think about the fact the Word of God is always reforming us, always bringing us into conformity with Christ. One of the ways God can accomplish this is through the rich devotional and doctrinal writing of the past. I know, I know, it doesn’t sound all that thrilling! But trust me there is some truly wonderful writing that is not necessarily on the New York Times best seller list. Have you ever heard of the Heidelberg Catechism? It was written in 1563, not long after Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door at Wittenberg. It was meant to teach children the truths of the faith. Consider the richness of the very first question: Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death? Answer. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. Newer is not necessarily better. Thank God for his faithfulness throughout the centuries to preserve the truth of his word and the power of the gospel. In Christ, Blain Craig |
AuthorDr. Blain Craig Archives
November 2024
Categories |