Raising Apostolic Children

[Sept5SavedTeen]

Originally Posted by warrior

Bro. Alex,

I think that if they are going to exclude the way they do then perhaps they shouldn't get ANYTHING from the world's system as the mennonites do, not even a job. They should have their own resources, but they are not organized and resourceful enough to do that. These people have no vision. They only care about making rules.

I said that a long time ago. If they had their own community then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Even the mennonites give their children an opportunity to taste the world and make a decision as to whether they choose to continue in the life they were raised in.

The Amish allow for rumspringa, the Mennonites that I know don't, and there's another "holiness" group like the Mennonites that I know that have a whole system of church schools and they don't allow rumspringa and their kids are hyper-indoctrinated and some stay, some go, it's just the way it is.
The point of the matter is this, parents need to do what they think is best, and not be ruled by fear of later driving their kids away or whatever. These people you talked to are still at the same assembly so they must think this is best.
Why don't they homeschool?

As for getting jobs, the Mennonites I know have the men go out and work and the women either stay home or work small jobs from home (ie. one woman sews from home, another might do other small jobs from home or teach at their school, ect, ect...). Men, even in really conservative churches can usually get jobs, since their clothing is not so outlandish as the women's and they can do some sort of manual labor if they lack an education due to their church's fear of education or whatever- and hey, it's pay by the sweat of the brow! It's not a life I'd want to live, but people have a right to live that sort of life if they want.

-Bro. Alex

[MarcBee]

Originally Posted by warrior

Jimmy, this is all based on a discussion I was having with a friend. He church is very legalistic, and her children are carrying on pretty badly in school. Because they really don't have anything to take away from them their only manner of discipline is to spank them.

I think they need to be experiencing things kids experience because it helps to mold who they are, provide the needed experiences for being well rounded and can assist in areas of discipline.

No, I don't have any kids. I wouldn't be a member of this church because they just have waaaaaaay toooooooo many rules to follow and none of them are in the Bible.

Rules should SERVE US, not vice versa. One rule I have is "never shop on Black Friday and always avoid crowds the other 364 days." This rule SERVES me well, but not without some cost (in this case a minimal cost compared with the benefits.) Every rule has costs and benefits, and we should also analyze our church rules in that light. Many OP churches have evolved into a heavily rules centered religion. Three reasons come to mind; there are more.

1. It's easy. Rules make it easy to ID "right" and "wrong". Then, add the natural tendency for self righteousness, and presto, you have an appealing institution. All faiths glory in their distinctions, (even militant Islamists) who know what is God's will for everyone else.

2. Rules provide a kind of leverage for control. It's relatively easy to issue a kind of faux sin ticket from the pulpit. Such enhances a minister's influence upon those who are ever "trying" to measure up to (the agreed upon!) rules, IOW, the guilt card.

3. It gives the preacher something concrete and understandable to teach, instead of having to articulate the deeper matters of the spirit, or a Bible that is so much bigger than our rules list.

Those points all have their legitimate and necessary counterparts in true Christian liberty, but are also easily abused. Thankfully, "My sheep know My voice, and another they will not follow." Christian liberty is worth fighting for, at least to those for whom it is valuable. For many, it is not so valuable, and apparently they can live nice, happy lives bound by, characterized by the following of rules.

Warrior, since apparently this parent comes to you for advice, the best thing you can do is to be a surrepticious Bible teacher and pray that if you have greater light, that will have effect through the Spirit. Fortunately, even tyrannical pastors tell their folks to read the Bible. And this alone rescues some (it did me) even after many years. But some people seem to have a psychological makeup that wants to function in chains that seem comfortable enough, rather than liberty, which has its risks. For these, the rule centered life may be the only thing they can handle (at least for a while.)

Interesting how we can easily move across the county for a slightly better job, but say we are "stuck" in a certain church.

SOS

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by warrior

I was wondering how much of your church rules do you infringe on your children. For example the following rules have been set by your church:

1. No movies
2. No television
3. No sports or attending sporting events
4. No prom
5. No marching band
6. No pants at all on little girls regardless of the event
7. Head covering everday and all day for little girls (even in school)
8. No participation in dance
9. No listening to secular music

How much do you think your children should experience and are these things going to cause your child to go to hell or end up on some type of slippery slope?

Originally Posted by aak1972

I dont believe anyone can find a scripture that will prove any of these things will send anyone to hell!!!!

Originally Posted by jimmyrrs

It sounds more like standards. A lot of churchs don't want the members to mix with the outside world. I must ask how will a person learn to get along with others.
I have used this example before. Playing football is not evil. A lot of the guys get a lot of money and then go crazy. It's, the love of money that's wrong, not the money itself.
What do you put first in your life? God or the world. What do you let influence you? The Word of God or the word of the world?
If anything you listed is causing you or your family to lose out with God then it should go.
My home church does use standards but at the same time one must use common sense.

Originally Posted by warrior

What happens when the children begin to act out in school and home in protest to so many rules? What is a parent to do while making the kids follow these rules?

They will eventually rebel, and when they do - then you will lose them to the liberals on AFF

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by jtork

I guess I missed the scriptures about not watching TV and movies.

The nerve of some people wanting scripture for everything...

[A_PoMo]

Originally Posted by warrior

I was wondering how much of your church rules do you infringe on your children. For example the following rules have been set by your church:

1. No movies
2. No television
3. No sports or attending sporting events
4. No prom
5. No marching band
6. No pants at all on little girls regardless of the event
7. Head covering everday and all day for little girls (even in school)
8. No participation in dance
9. No listening to secular music

How much do you think your children should experience and are these things going to cause your child to go to hell or end up on some type of slippery slope?

My church does not preach any of these standards. And in regards to the last one I say "THANK GOD!"

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by warrior

I was wondering how much of your church rules do you infringe on your children. For example the following rules have been set by your church:

1. No movies
2. No television
3. No sports or attending sporting events
4. No prom
5. No marching band
6. No pants at all on little girls regardless of the event
7. Head covering everday and all day for little girls (even in school)
8. No participation in dance
9. No listening to secular music

How much do you think your children should experience and are these things going to cause your child to go to hell or end up on some type of slippery slope?

Who on earth are you talking about??

[Sept5SavedTeen]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

They will eventually rebel, and when they do - then you will lose them to the liberals on AFF

I hate those sort of statements! They're like a nails on a chalk board... "Well, you know, they're just eventually going to rebel..." Now losing them to liberal AFFers isn't the worst thing in the world, lol, and I know that was said in jest, but here's my point...

Even if there are a ton of rules, if you EXPLAIN them to your kids and your kids really love the LORD they will keep the rules. I will never worry about my future daughters and that having them wear skirts might be too strict and make them backslide one day, because my future wife and I explain it to them, and teach them all the other doctrines of the Church and about GOD, in their rising and sleeping. Hassidic Jews continue on with 1000 more rules than we have, but they still stay and are faithful. This apostolic who has these rules warrior mentioned, I don't agree with all of them, but they, and the rest of us, shouldn't hold back holiness from the next generation for fear of them backslidding. If you really believe something you owe it to your children to teach it.

-Bro. Alex

[MarcBee]

Originally Posted by Sept5SavedTeen

Even if there are a ton of rules, if you EXPLAIN them to your kids and your kids really love the LORD they will keep the rules.

Sweet dreams, my brother. They do come true occasionally.

I will never worry about my future daughters....because my future wife and I explain it to them, and teach them all the other doctrines of the Church and about GOD,

You ought to view the movie "Fiddler On The Roof" (1971) because it rings true to life--life since approximately Adam and Eve.

Of course, not if your pastor forbids such.

SOS

[Sister Alvear]

Originally Posted by Sept5SavedTeen

Even if there are a ton of rules, if you EXPLAIN them to your kids and your kids really love the LORD they will keep the rules.

Do you have children?

[warrior]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Who on earth are you talking about??

Who isn't important. Let's discuss the issue. Thank you!