OceanSide church of Christ
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WHY YOUR
CHILDREN NEED THE CHURCH
Victor M. Eskew
For some Christian
families, the church is a very important element of their family life. Much of what the family does centers in
church activities. For others, such
is not the case. The church is only
a minute part of their lives. The
only contact they have with the church is during the A.M. worship service. If you fall into the second category, we
address this article to you. It is
this author’s opinion that children need the church. We want you to understand “why” they
need the church.
First, children need
the church because they have precious souls. In II Corinthians 4:16, Paul referred to
the soul of man as “the inward man.”
According to Jesus, the soul is the most important possession that an
individual has. He once
taught: “For what is a man
profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?” (Matt. 16:26). There are
many institutions that exist in the world that deal with the physical man and
his needs. Only one institution,
the church, addresses the issues surrounding the soul of
man.
Second, children need
the church because they need to know God.
In Isaiah 2:2-3, the prophet looked down the corridors of time and saw
the coming kingdom, the church. He
also saw those coming to the house of the God of Jacob. In their coming, they developed a
relationship with the God of heaven.
“And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the
mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of
his ways, and we will walk in his paths:
for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem.” It was God who planned
the church (Eph. 3:8-11). It was
Jesus who shed His blood for the church (Acts 20:28). It is the Spirit of God who governs the
church through the Word that He has revealed (II Tim. 3:16-17). If an individual truly wants to know
God, he must come to His church.
There, he can have fellowship with the Godhead
three.
Third, children need
the church because they stand in need of salvation. The words, “for all have sinned and come
short of the glory of God,” apply to our children. As sinners, they need salvation. They need the cleansing blood of Christ
applied to their lives. This blood
is found in the body of Christ, the church (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18). According to Ephesians 5:23, Jesus “is
the savior of the body.” To say our
children do not need the church is to say that they do not need
salvation.
Fourth, our children
need the church because they need a moral compass to guide them through this
ungodly world. The world is not
concerned about self-control and discipline. The world is not concerned about right
and wrong. The slogans of the world
cry out, saying: “If it feels good,
do it,” and “reach for all the gusto you can.” The life the world encourages is one of
no restraint and no moral guidance.
Such a life usually ends in heartache and despair. The church has the Word of God as its
light (Ps. 119:105). It leads men
in paths of righteousness. It warns
men about the ways of ungodliness and worldly lusts. If our children follow the teachings of
the church, they will have life, health, peace, and joy. What parent would keep these things from
his child?
Fifth, children need
the church because of the rich fellowship it contains. The world is an enticing, alluring, and
evil place. Christians have been
called out of the power of darkness and have been translated into the kingdom of
God’s dear Son (Col. 1:13). This
fellowship contains all who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. It contains those who had died to the
world. Its members have crucified
the flesh with the affections and lusts.
They seek to be holy and live like the Son of God. Isn’t this the kind of people parents
want their children to fellowship?
Don’t they want them to be influenced by those who seek to be good and
righteous? If so, the church is
where they need to have their children.
The saints of God are found therein.
Sixth, children need
the church because of the rich blessings that are found therein. Paul wrote that all spiritual blesses
are found in Christ (Eph. 1:3).
Prayer is one of those blessings (James 5:16). Prayer opens the storehouse of God to
the redeemed. Prayer provides a
place where the suffering soul can find comfort. It accesses a power that can change the
course of human affairs. Another
blessing found within the church involves hope. This hope extends beyond the cold, dark
grave. It lies in the world to
come. This hope lightens our load,
brightens our day, and causes us to press on in the midst of great
adversity. These are just two of
the many blessings found in the body of Christ. Surely, no parent would intentionally
keep their children from such wonderful blessings.
There are those in the
world who want no part of organized religion. There are those who have dabbled with
the church, and who believe that it provides little for their lives. There are still others who stay
connected with the church, but who do not experience its richness and
fullness. Many of these people are
seeking to rear their children in this world of wickedness (I John 5:19). They want their children to “be
good.” They want them to be
happy. They want them to be able to
establish strong and happy homes.
Sadly, their neglect of the church is hindering their goals. These parents need to study the church
in more detail. They need to
immerse themselves in the church and experience its completeness. When they do, they will genuinely
understand “why” their children need the church.