PARENTHOOD
a divine stewardship
Volume 1 Issue 2
June 1996
A Divine Commission
In our first issue of Parenthood, we saw the responsibility of being a parent: "God has delivered our children's bodies, souls, thoughts, lives, and futures into our hands. No person can influence another's destiny more than parents can their children's" (Watchman Nee, Do All To The Glory Of God, p. 72). God has committed to us our children as a divine stewardship. He will demand an accounting from us of how we cared for these children whom He has entrusted to us. The scriptures charge us to nurture our children in the discipline and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). In this issue we will begin to consider some aspects of the carrying out of the Lord's charge.
In the United States, rebellion is a major factor which is influencing and, in many cases, corrupting our children. As parents in the Lord's Recovery, it is our responsibility to not only learn to know and respect the authority of God, but to infuse this same characteristic into our families. Rebellion can only be displaced when we, the children of the Lord, learn to be in submission to authority. To strengthen our awareness of the central significance of the Lord's authority in the universe, we have included in this issue a portion from Authority and Submission, written by Watchman Nee.
Although it is true that Christ eventually must replace all the natural things, it is essential that we realize that man's natural virtues must first be developed in order that they may become the containers of the divine attributes. Children must learn to know and obey authority, realizing that all authority has its source in God (Romans 13:1-7). We have included a message given by Witness Lee from the Life-Study of Colossians which points to the proper use of culture for the essential growth and development of our children.
CONCERNING LAWLESSNESS And because lawlessness will be multiplied, the love of the many will grow cold. -- Matthew 24:12 Do not become dissimilarly yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? -- 2 Corinthians 6:14 Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify to Himself a particular people as His unique possession, zealous of good works. -- Titus 2:14 |
THE IMPORTANCE OF AUTHORITY
God's works issue from God's throne; God's throne is established upon authority. All things have been created by the authority of God, and all laws on earth are held together through authority. Hence, the Bible says that God upholds all things by the word, which is of His authority; it does not say that God upholds all things by His power. God's authority represents God Himself; God's power only represents God's works. It is easy to be forgiven of sin against God's power, but it is not that easy to be forgiven of sin against God's authority, for to sin against God's authority is to sin against God Himself. In the whole universe only God is authority. All other authorities are appointed by God. Nothing is greater than authority in the universe; nothing can surpass it....
| In the whole universe only God is authority. All other authorities are appointed by God. |
SATAN'S BEGINNING
Satan became Satan because he overstepped God's authority. He wanted to compete with God and to stand in opposition to God. Rebellion is the cause of the fall of Satan.
(continued on page 2)
