News from The Kingdom

We are frequently asked questions concerns the death and eternal state of infants, children and those who are not mentally capable of accepting Jesus Christ as their savoir. This question is charged with emotion and has been debated since the early Church fathers. Unfortunately, the Scriptures do not directly and explicitly address this topic. It would be presumptuous, therefore, to suggest that we have written the final and authoritative answer to this important question. Nevertheless, the following considerations may help to bring some light to a confusing issue. (more…)

Jesus Christ welcomed and blessed children during His incarnate ministry. Mark 10:13-16 reveals an interesting incident involving children. “And they began bringing children to Him, so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Permit the children to come to Me; and do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter in at all.’ And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands upon them.” (more…)

God is calling us to be part of His family too, not just for the rest of this physical life but for all eternity. And, as any good parent, God expects us to get along with our spiritual brothers and sisters.

Given that families serve as workshops for insight into spiritual principles, how can we fulfil God’s desires for us in our families? For starters, we can obey the Fifth Commandment, which tells us to honour our parents (Exodus 20:12). In learning to honour our physical parents, we indirectly learn to honour our spiritual Father. Families are to build and sustain mutual respect and love for others. Such families are safe harbours in a dangerous world of false values, deception and misinformation. The coming Kingdom of God, in the simplest of terms, is a large, happy family that will last forever. (more…)

Families today come in all shapes, sizes and configurations. Because divorce is so common, it’s no longer unusual for children to be raised in households apart from their biological parents and with siblings who are their half brothers or half sisters or with teens or other children who have no biological relation to them at all. Some believe such arrangements are simply the product of enlightened individuals seeking happiness. Many justify this casual attitude toward divorce, saying: “It’s better for the kids to see us happy rather than fighting. The kids are strong and resilient. They’ll get over the divorce and eventually have a new family.” But rarely do they realize the full cost of divorce. (more…)

A recent report by the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (Youth Exposure to Alcohol Advertising on Television and in National Magazines, 2001 to 2006; December 19, 2007) brings out the following statistics:

Alcohol use is the number-one drug problem among youth. More students in grades 8, 10 and 12 drink alcohol than smoke cigarettes or use illegal drugs. “Alcohol use remains extremely widespread among today’s teenagers. Nearly three quarters of students (72 percent) have consumed alcohol (more than just a few sips) by the end of high school; and about two fifths (39 percent) have done so by 8th grade…. Nearly a fifth (18 percent) of the 8th graders in 2007 report having been drunk at least once in their life” (Overview of Key Findings, 2007, NIH Publication 08-6418, p. 9) (more…)