The apostle Pail speaks of the difference of comprehension and understanding as relates to the adult and juvenile. It is not a statement of scorn or contempt, but one of the experiences. He said: "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (I Cor. 13:11). The following articles from The Hiding Place, via Readers Digest (July, 1993, p. 150), is an excellent example.

Corrie ten Boom:

"Father, what is sex sin?"

My father turned to look at me, as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case from the rack over our heads, and set it on the floor.

"Will you carry it of the train, Corrie?" he said. I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with watched and spare parts he had purchased that morning.

"Its too heavy," I said.

"Yes," he said, "And it would be pretty poor father who would ask a pretty little girl to carry such a load. Its the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now, you must trust me to carry it for you.

And I was satisfied. More than satisfied  wonderfully at peace. There were answers to this and all my hard questions  but now I was content to leave them in my fathers keeping."

I feel for the child of our day who is asked to carry loads the fathers and mothers should be carrying for them. Our children are robbed of childhood as they are called upon to carry "adult" responsibilities. Paul teaches there is a time "to put away childish things," but not when you are a child/ James Dobson wisely stated: "Sometimes we're so concerned about giving our children what we never had growing up, we neglect to give Important goal then is to bring them up In the nurture and them what we did have growing up." Even though a child may have the mental capacity to learn beyond their years, they are not capable of shouldering adult obligations.

Do you not fear, along with me, for the future of our families, our homes, our nation, when fools are situated in high places. The wise man wrestled with this problem long, long ago. He observed: "The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good" (Ecc. 9:17-18; NIV). Also, "There is art evil [have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are now put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones" (Etcl. 10:5-6; NIV).

The following letter to the editor of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette (July 17, 1993), is worthy of reprint. It was written by brother Marvin Cossey who used to worship with this congregation. Under the caption, Does Dr. Elders know whats best for Children? He wrote:

Dr. Joycelyn Elders talks about a goal of making every child in America a wanted child.

Some would consider her a crusader for children. But does she really know whats best for children? Based on her opinions on related issues, I doubt that she does.

She favors passing out condoms to students in public schools. In an effort to reduce teen pregnancies, Elders would aid and abet students in committing fornication. This I like the program in New York where they passed out hypodermic needles to drug addicts. You do not encourage people to do right by assisting them in doing wrong.

In case her condoms dont succeed, this arrogant doctor has another cure for unwanted pregnancies. She would simple kill the unborn child by abortion.

Her "cure" is worse than the illness. Apparently, she is unable to see that human life is more important than whether a child is wanted or unwanted.

Liberals such as Elders have a flawed concept of right. They support a mothers right to kill her child in the womb, but not a fathers right to preserve it. They have an abortionists right to kill for profit, but not the babys right to live.

Elders goal for children to be wanted is way down on the list of whats best for children. Without the right to life itself, all other goals are meaningless. Once children are born, the most important goal, then, is to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

True advocates for children will stress morality, not condoms; they will promote life, not abortion.

It was a sad day for our nation when the decision was made to allow rank humanists to take charge of and control the curriculum and teaching of our children. The wise man warned long ago, "Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding" (Prov. 23:23). And, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people" (Prov. 14:34).

Lord, help us to guide our children aright!

 Guardian of Truth, XXXVII, No. 23, p.21
December 2, 1993