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This is nothing new. Jack Davis, a PC(USA) minister, used to advocate this at Gordon-Conwell. We called it "Dutch evangelism."
But I dissent. Despite the qualifiers, this sends a terrible message to smaller families & singles. And to our children. 1/ https://twitter.com/TGC/status/1273338376524095491
But I dissent. Despite the qualifiers, this sends a terrible message to smaller families & singles. And to our children. 1/ https://twitter.com/TGC/status/1273338376524095491
I appreciate DeYoung on so many things, but here I think he errs. The quote above is OK. But here are others:
"Strongly consider having more children than you think you can handle." 2/
"Strongly consider having more children than you think you can handle." 2/
"Do you want to be a rebel against the status quo? Do you want people to ask you for a reason for the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15)? Tote your brood of children through Target. There is almost nothing more counter-cultural than having more children." 3/
And yes, large families are wonderful! When I visit new parents at the hospital, one of my great pastoral privileges, I *always* read Ps. 127 & 128.
I remind them each child is a blessing - AND to have as many as they desire, emphasis with the wife, since it's her body! 4/
I remind them each child is a blessing - AND to have as many as they desire, emphasis with the wife, since it's her body! 4/
And to not worry about what the culture says. And to raise each child in the fear and admonition of the Lord. And I repeat all these things at their baptisms. 5/
But when we say these kinds of things as a *church* and as pastors, that having large families will help change the culture, and THAT'S why to do it, oh my, I can't even.
But I am going to try. 6/
But I am going to try. 6/
Sure, infertile couples will hear our qualifiers, and so will our singles.
But they will also hear that they are not doing as much for the Kingdom as parents and especially large families. They will get the message.
You cannot qualify that kind of church culture away. 7/
But they will also hear that they are not doing as much for the Kingdom as parents and especially large families. They will get the message.
You cannot qualify that kind of church culture away. 7/
Moreover, and this is my biggest objection: It treats our children as commodities, as pawns, as enlistees in the culture war. They must be catechized - and converted, Lord willing - *in order* to make a difference. THAT'S why we had them. 8/
Again, this will be qualified away, but the emphasis of this article - and this Quiverfull theology found elsewhere - is on advancing the Kingdom, not on LOVING your kids, just because they are your kids! - no matter how converted or productive they turn out to be! 9/
I better stop there, but you can see the problems here and what children will hear when they hear this sort of thing. They need to be productive for the Kingdom to be part of some family legacy. That's why mom & dad had them. 10/
I would rather teach them what Ecclesiastes 9 says:
"Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do....
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might." 11/
"Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do....
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might." 11/
I want them to believe the promises of their baptism so that they will be united to Christ forever and enjoy Heaven when it is time.
In the meantime, they are to pick up their crosses daily and follow Jesus because they love Him.
Not because they are part of a culture war. FIN
In the meantime, they are to pick up their crosses daily and follow Jesus because they love Him.
Not because they are part of a culture war. FIN
Two other qualifiers:
1) Is putting our hope in large families better than putting it in secular politics? Sure. But see above.
2) I pastor several large families. And I absolutely LOVE them. GREAT parents & kids, each one.
But I also love our singles & other couples. 13/12
1) Is putting our hope in large families better than putting it in secular politics? Sure. But see above.
2) I pastor several large families. And I absolutely LOVE them. GREAT parents & kids, each one.
But I also love our singles & other couples. 13/12
I should stop but here is the other thing. If you are in Christ, you ARE building His Kingdom just as He intends, even if seems small to you.
That's Eph. 2:10, I Thes. 4:11, Zech 4:10, I Cor 3:12-15, I Pet 1:13 & the Widow's Mite.
We should not judge things so outwardly. 14/12
That's Eph. 2:10, I Thes. 4:11, Zech 4:10, I Cor 3:12-15, I Pet 1:13 & the Widow's Mite.
We should not judge things so outwardly. 14/12
One more thing (and there may be more). How about adoption? Some of the large families in our church are large because they have adopted children in need! I think that might have gotten a sentence or two in this article. 15/12
