Ministry Under Fire for Preaching about Sin
[Portland
Child Evangelism Fellowship Under
Fire for Preaching to Kids About Sin
by Heather Clark] "Portland, Ore. --
A chapter of a nationally-recognized
Christian group that seeks to reach
children with the gospel of Jesus
Christ is under fire for teaching
kids the biblical doctrine of sin
and eternal judgment, in addition to
sharing about the love and mercy of
God.
The Portland chapter of Child
Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is
facing resistance from some area
residents as they conduct voluntary
summer camps in the area and plan on
hosting after-school Bible studies
in local public schools. The
problem? CEF teaches children that
each person is a sinner in need of
the Savior.
Those who oppose the group assert
that because of this, CEF does not
present “Jesus loves you” mainstream
Christianity, and claim that the
organization is “hardcore
evangelical fundamental...” Full
text:
Portland Child Evangelism Fellowship
Under Fire for Preaching to Kids
About Sin
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Don't jump the gun, folks. I wouldn't want God's unTruth teaching my kids about sin, either. The kids need to be hearing about the LOVE of God. Save the sin for the Pharisees and hypocrites....there are plenty of those around...Mark 10:13-15KJV..."
Mk 10:13 little children. See note on 9:36. that He might touch them. I.e., lay His hands on them and pray for them (Matt. 19:13). Jewish parents commonly sought the blessing of prominent rabbis for their children.
10:14 do not forbid them. Jesus rebuked the disciples for their attempt to prevent the children from seeing Him (v. 13). They were not the ones to decide who had access to Jesus (cf. Matt. 15:23). of such is the kingdom of God. Most, if not all, of these children would have been too young to exercise personal faith. Jesus’ words imply that God graciously extends salvation to those too young or too mentally impaired to exercise faith (see note on Matt. 19:14). kingdom of God. See note on 1:15.
10:15 Assuredly, I say to you. See note on 3:28. as a little child. With humble, trusting dependence, and the recognition of having achieved nothing of value or virtue.
Mt 19:14 of such. These children were too young to have exercised personal faith. See Luke 18:15, where Luke refers to them as "infants." Therefore, it is all the more significant that Christ used them as an illustration of those who make up "the kingdom of heaven" (cf. 18:1–4). Mark 10:16 also says He "blessed them." God often shows a special mercy to those who because of age or mental deficiency are incapable of either faith or willful unbelief (cf. Jon. 4:11). They are called "innocents" in Jer. 19:4. This does not mean they are free from the inherited guilt and moral corruption of Adam’s sin (see notes on Rom. 5:12–19), but rather that they are not culpable in the same sense as those whose sins are premeditated and deliberate. Jesus’ words here suggest that God’s mercy is graciously extended to infants so that those who die are sovereignly regenerated and granted entrance into the kingdom—not because they are deserving of heaven, but because God in His grace chooses to redeem them. See notes on 2 Sam. 12:23; Mark 10:14.
MacArthur, J., Jr. (Ed.). (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1428). Nashville, TN: Word Pub.
