Beware this Halloween Children's Tract. THEOLOGY FAIL

Being in children's ministries a lot of different stuff comes across my desk. A lot of stuff is from churches trying to offload their "Sunday School surplus". In that case I try to give them information for area churches who might benefit from the materials as I'm rather limited to the kinds of materials that I'm allowed to use. Many people give me shoeboxes full of tracts for children and adults. Honestly, most of those are best suited to help start the fires in my chimenia stove thing on our patio in the evenings. But in the past week I recieved a particular Halloween children's tract from yet another well meaning individual that I just had to share with you all. It's bad folks, really bad. Oh, it's attractive and well put together cosmetically, but the theology is bad. Bad bad. Hellfire and brimstone heretically bad.

This tract is tract number 285 from "The Tract League" in Grand Rapids, MI. (http://www.tractleague.com/) What scares me overall is two fold. #1: The poor, heretical teachings. #2: You can purchase these for $1.25 a dozen or 100 for $8.00 plus postage, which worries me as to how many of these heretical things have actually been passed out to children. The image at the side of this post is the actual tract. The only editing I have done is to arrange the pages into one vertical column to fit nicely in this post. I have not edited it in any way besides this layout. Everything else that you see is as it's printed. Here are just a few of my concerns with this tract. There are more, but I'm just going to hit a few highlights:

CONCERN #1: The third point of this tract teaches the reader that they must live to please God in order to be saved. This is teaching works-righteousness. HUGE problem. They sight Galations 6:7-8, which would make sense if you believe in the heretical teaching of works-righteousness. They could be blending justification with sanctification here possibly. I don't know for sure. Apparently Acts 16:31 or John 1:12-13 was overlooked. Their third point here was absolute garbage. (incidently, this point is in direct contrast to what they say in the first paragraph next to the cowboy guy. "The Bible says that all who believe in Him are saved from the devil and given eternal life.")  This could have been a point to talk about sin, how all have sinned, are born in sin, and that we can do nothing in and of ourselves to do anything about our sin, as well as what the penalty for this sin is.

CONCERN #2: Speaking of sin, it's not even mentioned until the end of the tract! There's no definition of it, no explanation that we are all guilty of it, no explanation that prior to Christ we are helpless to it and can do nothing escape the punishment for it.

CONCERN #3:  This tract essentially puts the reader in relation to God and the Devil. It's kind of like they're trying to convince the reader to be a part of God's team vs. being a part of the Devil's team. Uh, it's not that you're either on God's team or the Devil's team. It's you're either saved by God or you go to Hell. Satan doesn't have a team. He's condemned. Hell is his punishment and not his realm of rule. They really botch things in the first paragraph next to the cowboy guy when they say "The Bible says that all who believe in Him are saved from the devil and given eternal life." Those who are in Christ are not saved from the Devil. In fact, in many cases, those who are in Christ are under more spiritual attack than those who are unbelievers. We aren't saved from the Devil, we are saved from the punishment of sin, which is Hell. Once again, the Devil doesn't rule Hell. It's his punishment.

CONCLUSION: There's several more things I could go on about, but I just wanted to hit a few highlights. If you're a Confessional Lutheran or a Reformed reading this, I think it's pretty safe to assume that we probably have the same opinion about the prayer at the end. I could go on several more paragraphs just on the prayer they have.

Despite that this particular tract is heretical in it's teaching, is passing out tracts at Halloween to Trick or Treaters a bad idea? I don't think so. Just make sure it's biblically sound. It's a great opportunity to share Law and Gospel to kids that you probably won't have opportunities to later. That being said, it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to include the address of your church. In fact I strongly suggest doing that. Let's say that a child who reads the tract that you gave him does indeed have faith as a result of hearing the word of God. There are "churches" that I don't need to name that we don't want them going to to be discipled at. Put your church info on or with that tract so that they can be biblically discipled. Also, it wouldn't have been the first time that parents and families were introduced to church and the Gospel through a child.

Jesu Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria

Reflecting on God in the lives of my children

Today I was home for the first time in quite some time. I got to spend a lot of time with my 2 year old daughters. At night we end with saying The Lord's Prayer, and by "we" I mean all four of us. Once my girls start the prayer they usually pray it in its entirety.

At random times throughout the day they will ask me and my wife questions about God. From time to time they'll walk up to us and say "Jesus saved me."

When I watch my daughters I see glimpses of them growing, questions that seem deeper than before, expressions that seem older, sentence structure that is more sophisticated, more questions about the God that saved them. I watch in wonder.

I wonder what they will be, why God gave them to us, how God he reveals Himself to them. I marvel at the baptismal waters and am so thankful for them.

"Jesus saved me daddy."
"Yes he did sweety."
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

My daughter's words: This father's happiness.

Several weeks ago I drove three hours in my 97' F-150 with one of my 2 year old twin daughters to my brother's house to help him get materials and to build a reloading bench. As is my habit on a trip of that length I'll have music playing from an MP3 player. It was either the Newsboys or All Star United that was playing. Over the top of one of the songs I heard "Daddy. Daddy. Daddy. Hey Daaady!" So I promply turn down the music to hear what she has to say to me from her car seat next to me in the truck.

When my wife and I brought our daughters to baptism, one of the things we agreed to before our pastor, family and close friends, was to see to the Christian instruction of our children. We took this very seriously. We are teachers by trade. Currently we are in children's ministries and in it I get to bring Law and Gospel to children (most of whom are from a non-Lutheran background) that they might have faith that comes by hearing of the word of God (Romans 10:17). At home we teach our children in a similiar fashion using Law and Gospel.

So I turned down the music that was playing to hear my daghter. She says "Daddy" one more time. I say "Yes sweety." She looks at me with her two year old smile and says "Daddy, Jesus saved me." I stared smiling at my daughter for minute, fighting back tears and emotion, and then quickly swerve the truck back into my lane on the highway. Eyes forward on my driving I reached over with my right hand, holding her hand in mine and said "Yes He did sweety. Yes He did."

Children, regarless of age, can have faith. That faith, after all, is given by Christ. Let us not forget John, while still in Elizabeth's womb, lept for joy upon hearing the greeting from Mary that she was carrying the Christ, our Savior. (Luke 1:39-45)

"Daddy, Jesus saved me." 
"Yes He did sweety. Yes He did."
Thank you Jesus.

Jesu Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria

Teaching Kids: Isn't that the church's job? Part the Third

(Note: The intent of this short series is not to be exhaustive, but to give us somewhat of a "bird's eye view" as to whom is responsible to see to the Christian Education of your children. It is not meant to undermine parents or the Church. It is not meant to be condemning, but, for some, quite possibly could be. Remember, the Law, as much as it may be uncomfortable and hurt, must be preached in full sternness that we may receive the Gospel in its full sweetness.)

Focus Verses: Deuteronomy 31:9-13
Moses tells the nation of Israel to assemble everyone together; men, women, children (which is “taph” in this text, meaning “toddlers to adolescents”) even the sojourners (foreigners, guests, strangers) that are with them. They were to do this every seven years. (v. 10) Within this assembly they were to not only hear (the “shama”) but learn to fear the Lord that they would do all the things the Lord commanded. They were to do this so that their children (“ben”) who have not known it would also learn to fear the Lord. Here we see a mandate that they should instruct the nation of Israel (as this mass body of believers, as opposed to at the family level) every man, woman and child. In this way there would be no children who did not know of the instructions and mighty works that the Lord of Israel had given and done in the future generations of Israel.

Summary and Conclusion for "Part the Third":  Here we see the Lord establishing time, frequency, and location for instructing the nation of Israel with the "Law" (in this case meaning "the scriptures" as opposed to our use of the word in "Law and Gospel") The entire nation (regardless of age) and all who is with them were to be instructed as a mass body once every seven years. Here, in this case, it is the instructed responsibility of the church to see to the children's Christian Education.

ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL : Crossway Bibles, 2008 

e-Sword
Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
TLSB. St. Louis, MO : Concordia Publishing House, 2009
Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary
Matt Richard

Jesu Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria

Teaching Kids: Isn't that the church's job? Part the Second

(Note: The intent of this short series is not to be exhaustive, but to give us somewhat of a "bird's eye view" as to whom is responsible to see to the Christian Education of your children. It is not meant to undermine parents or the Church. It is not meant to be condemning, but, for some, quite possibly could be. Remember, the Law, as much as it may be uncomfortable and hurt, must be preached in full sternness that we may receive the Gospel in its full sweetness.)

Deuteronomy 11

First Focus Verses:  Deuteronomy 11:18-21

Again Moses reiterates that they people are to fix (set or establish) God’s words on their hearts and minds and to teach (“lamad” in Hebrew. “to diligently train…instruct”) them at all times and places (v. 19 “…talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.). They are to keep the word visible on their persons and their households. In other words, there lives were to be a living testimony of the Lord.  With compliance of this condition God would bless them and their children for eternity. “The sense is: ‘Keep the covenant faithfully, and so shall your own and your children’s days be multiplied as long as the heaven covers the earth.’ The promise of Canaan to Israel was thus a perpetual promise, but also a conditional one.” “The words, “as the days of the heaven above the earth,” i.e., as long as the heaven continues above the earth, - in other words, to all eternity”

Second Focus Verses: Deuteronomy 11:1-2 ff

The nation of Israel is instructed to love the Lord their God and to keep everything He had commanded them always. Then Moses says in verse 2 "And consider today (since I am not speaking to your children who have not known or seen it)..." In other words, pay attention, listen, this is important. Remember what that Lord has done and what you have seen Him do. This is important because their children had not witnessed these mighty works of the Lord. It's not just for their sake that they do this, it's for the sake of their children as well so that they might know just how mighty and awesome God is, as well as how terrible His wrath is ( vs. 16-17) that they would continue to follow Him.

Summary and Conclusion for "Part the Second": For the sake of themselves, as well as their children, the Israelites are told to remember all that the Lord has done and to keep His commandments. They are to know them well and to take teachable moments as they come to instruct their children the things that they witnessed and have been commanded. Here, in this case, it is the instructed responsibility of the parents to see to their children's Christian Education.

ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL : Crossway Bibles, 2008
e-Sword
Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
TLSB. St. Louis, MO : Concordia Publishing House, 2009
Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary

Jesu Juva,

Soli Deo Gloria

"Teaching Kids: Isn't that the church's job?" Part the First

(Note: The intent of this short series is not to be exhaustive, but to give us somewhat of a "bird's eye view" as to whom is responsible to see to the Christian Education of your children. It is not meant to undermine parents or the Church. It is not meant to be condemning, but, for some, quite possibly could be. Remember, the Law, as much as it may be uncomfortable and hurt, must be preached in full sternness that we may receive the Gospel in its full sweetness.)


First Focus: Verses 4-9
(4)"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (5)You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. (6)And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. (7) You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (8) You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (9) You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Here the nation of Israel is given the "shema" (meaning "hear" or "listen") which is an early creed of Israel's faith in God. This was not to be some mere rote action of conformity, but to be done so believingly, fervently and above all else. These words were to be in the hearts of the parents, living them out, so that they could not only teach their children from the scriptures, but from their lives as well. They were to take every opportunity, every teachable moment, and instruct their children.

Second Focus: Verses 20-25
(20) "When your son asks you in time to come, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?' (21)then you shall say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. (22)And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. (23)And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. (24)And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. (25)And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.'"

Here we see a brief form of catechesis. Kiel and Delitzsch explain it like this:
"In Deu_6:20-25, the teaching to the children, which is only briefly hinted at in Deu_6:7, is more fully explained. The Israelites were to instruct their children and descendants as to the nature, meaning, and object of the commandments of the Lord; and in reply to the inquiries of their sons, to teach them what the Lord had done for the redemption of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt, and how He had brought them into the promised land, and thus to awaken in the younger generation love to the Lord and to His commandments."

In verse 25 "righteousness" does is not meant as in a merited legal status, but in context is mean "righteousness as the right response or obedience to God's covenant."

Summary and Conclusion for "Part the First": Through Moses the Israelites are given the "shema". It is to be "on your heart." The Isralites are then instructed to in turn teach their children the shema that they might fear and love God. Here, in this case, it is the instructed responsibility of the parents to see to their children's Christian Education.

Biblegateway.com
ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL : Crossway Bibles, 2008Deuteronomy 6

e-Sword
Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
TLSB. St. Louis, MO : Concordia Publishing House, 2009

Jesus Juva,
Soli Deo Gloria

Forget the ball, don't drop the food! (a prequel)

Recently I was making beef ravioli (in Montana we eat meat) for my almost two-year old daughters for supper. I carefully split the amount evenly between two plates and put them in the freezer for a minute to make sure they wouldn't be too hot for them. The first plate was retrieved safely and passed on to my wife and I then turned back to the freezer to get the second plate. I reached in an grabbed it, began to turn, and it slipped from my hand, bouncing off my chest, the wall and then onto the floor. "Ah Nellie!" I stared at the ground, tomato sauce splattered onto me from head to toe (as well as the wall and refrigerator), looking at the beef ravioli on the floor. I was really disappointed, not so much by the mess that I had just created, but because I had gotten the beef ravioli special for my girls and had dropped it all over the floor.

As a husband and a father I must see to the needs of my family. Physical needs are very important to young children. Without proper shelter, warmth, water and food a child can become malnourished and die. That's not going to happen in my house. But children have more than just physical needs. They have spiritual needs as well. They need Christ.

Whose responsibility is it to see to the spiritual needs of your children? Does it lie with you? Does it lie with the church? That does seem to be the attitude (and practice) of many. This is the start of a short series I'm calling "Teaching Kids: Isn't that the church's job?"

As I stood there in my wife's kitchen covered with tomato sauce, beef ravioli on the floor, I also stood there a forgiven sinner covered by the shed blood of Christ. I've been saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Salvation is only in Christ. We don't deserve this, can't buy this or do enough good things to earn this. We know this, but do your children? Whose responsibility is it to teach them this?

Jesu Juva
Soli Deo Gloria

Children Of The Kingdom

Leif E. Halvorson 11/6/10

1) Text: Matthew 18:1-14 ESV

¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" ²And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  ⁴ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 ⁵ "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ⁶but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

 ⁷"Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! ⁸ And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

 ¹⁰"See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. ¹² What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? ¹³And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. ¹⁴So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

2) A Child is Humble (vs. 18:2-4)
            A. Turn (v. 3)
                        i. turn around, change, change one’s thinking
                        ii. O.T. use can also mean “repent”
            B. Humble (v. 4)
                        i. has humility
                        ii.  does not consider one’s self sovereign
                        iii.  does not consider one’s self better than others
                        iv. is void of self
                                    a. an adult is “full” of his own thoughts,
                                       own words, own deeds, looking to
                                       himself (not humble) The disciples are
                                       asking Christ “Which one of us is the
                                       greatest (v. 1) possibly considering things
                                       of which they had done that might warrant
                                       an elevation of status. (not humble)
                                    b. a child is “empty” and can therefore be
                                       “filled” or led by it’s superior (Christ is
                                        our superior) which directs and changes
                                        its thoughts, words and deeds (humble)
                                    c. the child responded to Christ and came
                                        to Him simply because Christ called the
                                        child
            C. Dependant
                        i. must rely on someone to provide for them as they
                           are incapable
                                    a. requires loves but cannot produce it for
                                        themselves
                                    b. requires things for sustenance (i.e. food,
                                        shelter) but cannot produce it for
                                        themselves.
                                    c. cannot survive on its own, will die
3) A Child is Valued
            A. We know this when Christ says: "Whoever receives one
                 such child in my name receives me”(v. 5)
                        i. a child who is received or welcomed by someone
                           is likewise receiving the parent because the
                           child is of the parent. A child is the parent’s own.
                        ii. a believer in Christ has been redeemed and
                           justified by Him. The believer is Christ’s own.
            B.  We know this when Christ gives us stern warnings:
                        i. ^“…but whoever causes one of these little ones
                           who believe in me to sin…” (v. 6)
                                    a. It would be better to experience this type
                                        of hopeless drowning than to cause
                                        (tempt) “one of these little ones” to  sin
                                    b. In other words it would be better, for us,
                                        to be dead than to tempt and lead one to
                                        to sin.
                        ii. “…woe to the one by whom the temptation
                            comes!” (v. 7-9)
                                    a. “woe” –  doom to anyone who cause,
                                        tempts, others to sin
                                    b. it is very evident how much God hates
                                        temptors, temptation and sin
            C. We know this when God has his children watched over
                 (v. 10)
            D. We know this when He seeks to save that which is lost
                 (vs. 12-13)
                        i. He rejoices when He saves his children
            E. We know this because God does not wish His children
                 to be lost to eternal death. (v. 14)
4) A Child of the Kingdom
            A. Must become like a child or we will be lost (v. 3)
                        i. The only way to become like children is for the
                           Law (i.e. the Ten Commandments) to expose,
                           convict and destroy the worldly adults that
                           we are.
                                    a. We are selfish, self-centered, self-
                                        -relient, self-pleasing, full of our thoughts,
                                        our words, our deeds and like a sheep
                                        have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6)
            B. We are saved by Christ
                        i. Christ seeks after us like the shepherd who
                           searched for the lost sheep
                        ii. Lost in the wilderness due to our own choosing
                            of self, Christ saves us by grace through faith
                            when we are broken and have and contrite
                            hearts.
                        iii. He has redeemed us and has justified us before
                            the Father

RESOURCES:
            TLSB (Concordia)
            biblegateway.com
            eSword
            Commentary on Matthew (Lenski)
Jesu Juva
Soli Deo Gloria