The enemy in the Congregation

Mat 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

Many times the people that want to be part of the children’s ministry or nursery are the last people we want with our children

The sad thing is many times we have so few people that will volunteer for nursery, children or youth services, as soon as we have a warm body raise their hands for service, we are delighted and relieved.

• As the church is a place for people of sorted pasts to come and receive forgiveness for sins and a new start on life, we have a variety and many types of people that are at many different levels of maturity in their Christian walk. These are fighting a inner battle and perhaps lack maturity to stay away from places they will be tempted.

*Also, as “church people” are usually nice and enjoyable to hang out with, there are many that are not true converts and possibly never will be. Some merely joined a club.

• Then there are true enemies or “wolves in sheep’s clothing”. These are bad people using the liberty and kindness of the saints as a weakness to prey upon and devour as the true nature of our hidden enemy really is. He is a snake, deceiver, supplanter, thief amd has no good our honorable side.

Many times these are the ones that sneak into a place and and try to find an opportunity to satisfy their lusts and perversions that many cannot even comprehend.

Every child is a gift! My child, your child amd the children of people we don’t know, all are a gift from God and we have the responsibility to protect them.

This person that wants to be around the money, many times is the last person you want counting the offering or doing the books. I know of one church that has had three bookkeepers that have stolen from them.

The Early Church

We can always find wisdom in God’s Word. If we read in the book of Acts, we can see the Apostles found themselves in a predicament. They were busy with the distribution of food to the widows and they were neglecting their calling and proper focus. Prayer and ministry of the Word.

This is where we find the first deacons of the early church. The criteria to wait on tables and to distribute food to the widows.

Act 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

Criteria:

• Of honest report
• Full of the Holy Spirit
• Full of Wisdom

If this was the requirement for the task of food distribution, how much more should we critique, test and prove those who spend time with our kids and we are no around?

Over the years I seen so many people emotionally damaged due to a trusted family member that has hurt them. Physical, emotional and spiritual abuse.

Who is with our kids, what are they doing and what are they teaching them? You see this is the parent or guardian’s responsibility! We are entrusted by God to care for and protect them on all fronts. The buck stops with us! We cannot blame another! We must protect our children.

Accountability

When the offering is counted, it should be done by minimal two people. It should be done in a place that is accessible, so the two cannot one day be tempted to skim some of the funds (steal). I know a pastor roar had one of his problematic sons count the money. This cost him big time!

Nothing done in secret! How much more when there are people watching our children. No locked rooms, more than one person present at all times. Parents go check your child, volunteer for nursery, children’s church or youth. Get to know those who have contact with your children.

We should not get to the point where we suspect everyone, but we should do our due diligence. The extra effort is worth it and our greatest responsibility is to the helpless, our children. There are many great people who will be a blessing to our children. There are many gifted and truly love children and are called of God to be a blessing to them.

Of late we have been ministering in the schools here in the Philippines. Children ages 13 to 17 have told us with tears what they have endured over the years. After hearing these true life stories, I found it difficult to sleep for the next few days. Suffering at the hands of a mother, father, nanny, babysitter, neighbor, uncle or brother. We truly need to be gentle as doves and as wise as serpents. It is our privilege, honor and duty to protect our children.

We need to cover them in prayer like never before. And we should watch out for other people’s children too. Amen!

Just a few thoughts from a missionary on the front lines.

God bless!
Thank you for reading.
Daddy William