Hey @TGC. I just read this article and wanted to offer a few thoughts. Please read them?
First - I LOVE The Gospel Coalition. I'm incredibly thankful to have a biblically faithful organisation putting out regular and diverse resources for the worldwide church. Thank you so much.
First - I LOVE The Gospel Coalition. I'm incredibly thankful to have a biblically faithful organisation putting out regular and diverse resources for the worldwide church. Thank you so much.
I just would like to offer a few comments on this article. I think I understand its jist - if we have children, consider having more if possible, but most importantly, bring them up in the fear and the instruction of the Lord. And that, I wholeheartedly agree with.
But I'd like to question some potential insensitivity here too. Firstly - towards unmarried people. Are they unable to live counter-culturally without a bucket load of children? Can you understand that some of the phrasing here could lead some single Christians to feel sub-par?
Secondly, can you understand that in an article of this length, for couples who've faced infertility - like my wife and I have - a brief line of 'God moves in mysterious ways' can make us feel unseen, unloved & unwanted in a culture war? I know that wasn't Kevin's intent. But...
... Can you understand the pain that might cause people in my situation?
Thirdly, and I think this is my biggie, I agree that scripture again and again repeats that children are a blessing from the Lord. But I think the emphasis in this article (have more than you can handle)...
Thirdly, and I think this is my biggie, I agree that scripture again and again repeats that children are a blessing from the Lord. But I think the emphasis in this article (have more than you can handle)...
... Goes a little beyond scripture. No where does the Bible encourage that. If that was preached in my church, I think I'd question that conclusion as a public declaration. I understand Kevin has lots, and clearly he & his wife feel called to that - but it isn't explicitly...
...a thing that scripture commands all Christians to do. I feel like this article takes a small step beyond the Bible's teaching. For example: Daniel was highly counter-cultural. And he didn't have hundreds of children. What he did have was an unswerving commitment to....
...honour God with all he had, even if that meant being eaten alive. Could a better take on this article be 'Christian parents - be counter-cultural by raising your children to know God and scripture deeply and well. Don't waver on this. And if you're single, please help us...
...Do this in every way you can. In fact, all of us, being counter-cultural means being committed to loving, believing, knowing, teaching and living out God's word whatever we're called to.'
Again - I love @TGC. But I feel like this was a potentially hurtful miss-step that could hurt people in a way it never meant to.
