Do Not Sin Against The Child

 

Albert E. Farley

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.

 

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