When Joseph's evil brothers conspired to kill
him and to cast him into a pit, Reuben heard it and said, "Do
not sin against the child." He convinced them to cast Joseph
into an empty pit and intended to return later and deliver him
to his father. However, while he was away, his brothers took Joseph
out of the pit and, in spite of Joseph's anguish and pleas, sold
him for 20 pieces of silver to a caravan going to Egypt. Genesis
37:18-36; 42:21-22. Their sin against Joseph was very great, indeed.
Reuben's words came to my mind as I listened to
and read of the many crimes that have recently been committed
against children in our nation. Our children are among the most
vulnerable and defenseless members of the human family. Jesus
said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come
unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14.
He also said, "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted,
and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of heaven." Matthew 18:3.Yet, we are witnessing, in our time,
what seems to be an unprecedented epidemic of attacks upon little
children by the most wicked and evil of people. Many of these
attacks are being made by sexual perverts. Some of the attacks
have been committed by heartless family members. Physical and
sexual abuse against children must be punished swiftly and severely.
As we think about these outrageous sins against
our children, may we realize that there are many other ways in
which little children may be sinned against. Notice.
Unborn children are killed by calloused parents,
unethical doctors, and a government that allows them to be aborted
on demand. Little children are sinned against when school systems
do not allow the Bible to be read in school and ban public prayer.
Teachers sin against children when they teach that they are the
product of godless organic evolution.
Hundreds and thousands of little children are
the innocent victims of divorce and broken homes. Their little
hearts and spirits are broken by selfish parents. God hates divorce,
and this is one of the reasons why. Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:1-9.
Mothers and fathers are seldom "home" in many "homes."
Many parents are alcoholics and drug addicts. Many little children
are "crushed" because their fathers and mothers have
abandoned them to the care of others. 1 Timothy 5:8. These are
great sins against the little children.
In many affluent homes, the best of food, clothing,
education, recreation is provided for the children, but there
is little or no Bible teaching about God, Jesus Christ, prayer,
godly Christian living, or church attendance. Millions of little
children are growing up with no knowledge of the wonderful Bible
stories of Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark, Ruth, David and the
giant, Jonah and the whale, Esther, the good Samaritan, or of
Jesus and the cross.
Denominational churches sin against little children
when they "baptize" them as infants and, then, teach
them false doctrines. Worldly churches place more emphasis on
the physical and recreational "wants" of children than
upon their spiritual needs and teach everything but the Bible
in their "Bible" schools. This is a great sin.
Dear friends, children are a heritage of the Lord.
Psalm 127:3-5. They must be loved and provided for. Titus 2:4.
They need to be taught to fear the Lord. Psalm 34:11. They must
be trained in the way they should go and brought up in the nurture
and admonition of the Lord. Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4. They
need correction and discipline. Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:15;
23:13; 29:15. Children deserve godly homes and good examples.
Proverbs 20:7; 1 Corinthians 7:14. To give them less is sin. Please
do not sin against the child. Rt 5 Box 1468, Salem, WV 26426.