Parental demands for church attendance, and more on Jesus as king are topics, today. The 15-year-old “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “Keenan” (Level 1 with 91 points, a member since October 6, 2012) posted the following:
How can i get my dad to not make me go to church?
I’m LDS(mormon), and i don’t want to be, but my dad makes me attend evry church event he finds out about, which i hate. i’m 15 and i’ve told him i hate when he does this but nothing helps. any ideas?
THE BATTLE AXE: Jesus, King of Earth? (10/07/2012)—For those who are simple (i.e., in the early development of spiritual awareness), GOD is introduced, and most easily known and understood through demonstrations and depictions of divine authority, power and supremacy. Reports of healings, law, miracles and visitations by GOD give form and focus to sacred truth and wisdom. In agreement with such fundamental revelations are the proclamations, promises, and prophecies that come to mankind from GOD declaring divine governance through a being who is anointed with holy substance, and is consecrated to serve as priest, prophet, king, and judge.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (2nd Timothy 1: 1-10, King James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Why Jesus Prayed (08/19/2012); The Young Less Religious? (08/18/2012); Responsibility? (01/25/2011); For The Young (01/24/2011); Foiled Again (10/08/2010); Teen Believers? (10/07/2010)
Here’s some information that is often shared among the children of GOD that you may have missed:
It is the duty (i.e., assigned task one absolutely must do despite cost, difficulty or unpleasantness) of every Christian parent to share with their own offspring the many things from GOD that have been entrusted to them, and that they are to minister to others as “spreading the Gospel.” All are not needed as preachers or singers in the choir. Even so, as sons and daughters of GOD through the adoption of the Holy Spirit, ones parents receive inheritance with Jesus Christ that includes a lifestyle that is to minister divine presence, and sacred truth. Church attendance is important, because, apart from ones immediate family and companions, it is only by the mechanism of assembling with other believers that the spirit from GOD is properly acknowledged, encouraged, nourished, refreshed, and reinforced.
It is part of the divine process for spiritual growth of both the parent and the child that duty for making decisions respecting GOD, and participating in regular prayer and worship are transferred from the parents to the child. In a silent “rite of passage,” the parents must yield to the authority of GOD residing within the faith and maturity of their children. Unfortunately, for many young people, this means the parent must accept that their child will drop out of church to experiment and explore attractions of the flesh: appetite (such as hunger, thirst, cravings for sexual contact); sensations (such as hearing, seeing, tasting, touching); and mind (such as desires, dreams, fantasies, imagination, memories). (See 2nd Corinthians 1: 24, King James Version.) With this in view, parents insist on providing maximum exposure to their children for learning and growth in the things of GOD.
As children develop, church attendance crystallizes the many issues of freedom, integrity, growing self-awareness, legitimacy of ones person, peer acceptance, and genuine righteousness. Many young people respond with bitterness, combativeness, resentment, and resistance. From the age of 16 to 22, the choice is made to “quit”; however, the counsel from GOD (parents notwithstanding) is do not leave the church until you are supplied with everything needed to meet the spiritual challenges, disappointments hardships, and reversals that always come as part of adult life. Saying this another way: Do not leave until you receive the imparted, indwelling spirit of GOD, the Holy Spirit.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, parents often use what appears as “force” to proceed in relationship with their children, because as minors they are immature and underdeveloped. Children are not equipped to respond to appeals founded solely in intelligence, logic and reason; and they lean to emotion and feeling to authenticate truth. Sin that may dominate the will of created beings and living creatures does not operate in agreement with order and structure. Sin opposes the existence of Almighty GOD, of divine law, and of all things created. Sin has not been put forth as a creation of divine being, is not made of material or spirit substance (e.g., holiness, humility, joy, love, truth, wisdom, wrath against sin), and has no power to influence the will of GOD.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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