Church children, even (and especially) the very youngest of them, are the greatest beneficiaries of (and benefits to) a healthy and God-honoring church. Partly for this reason, they are to be the very first (not second, third, or last) in line, in the Lord’s economy, for receiving the ministry of the body of Christ.
God is concerned that the youngest, and most vulnerable of His own get all the help they need. This assistance comes in various forms. Even before they are born, the children are recognized and prayed for by the congregation. After their births, these children of believers are baptized into the church body. The benefits of baptism include, among many other things, all the hope of God’s good favor in Christ.
Baptized children’s religious education starts in the church, and is enhanced in the home, as their parents reinforce what they hear from the pulpit into the hearts and minds of their children. Church children have benefits and advantages that are not experienced by those outside the body of Christ—be their other worldly favors as great as they may be.
God would have His church love, embrace, value, serve, teach, encourage, and disciple His littlest ones, which He has been so gracious to bequeath to His people.
Let all God’s churchmen become like the smallest members of Christ’s body: in simple faith in, and felt dependence upon Jesus.
The Forum for Ecclesiocentricity is designed to educate Christians and non-Christians alike to understand the Biblical teaching concerning the Church (the "Puritan" church in particular), with regard to its principal role on the earth. When this is achieved, it is hoped that the Church would then be in a better position to convey Christ's redemptive virtues to the civil government (state), and the family. (You may email me at: markjhenninger@gmail.com)
