Come Ye Children
I started reading a book titled “Come, Ye Children”: A Book for Parents and Teachers on the Christian Training of Children, by Charles Spurgeon. The title suggests that he’s addressing children, but Spurgeon looks further than the simple age-based definition.
The lambs are the young of the flock. So, then, we ought to look specially and carefully after those who are young in grace. They may be old in years, and yet they may be mere babes in grace as to the length of their spiritual life, and therefore they need to be under a good shepherd. (Spurgeon, Come Ye Children, 8)
I really like this definition. It expands the concept of children to perceive the needs of people based not on physical-age, but spiritual-age. Spurgeon goes on to challenge the shepherds, whether they be parents, or teachers:
Christian children mainly need to be taught the doctrine, precept, and life of the gospel: they require to have Divine truth put before them clearly and forcibly. Why should the higher doctrines, the doctrines of grace, be kept back from them? They are not as some say, bones; or if they be bones, they are full of marrow, and covered with fatness. If there be any doctrine too difficult for a child, it is rather the fault of the teacher’s conception of it than of the child’s power to receive it, provided that child be really converted to God. It is ours to make doctrine simple; this is to be a main part of our work. Teach the little ones the whole truth and nothing but the truth; for instruction is the great want of the child’s nature. (Spurgeon, Come Ye Children, 8)
This is one of the reasons it is so important for parents to understand the difficult doctrines and be able to explain them in simpler terms. We should strive to learn those doctrines which are difficult to grasp and master them in such a way that we can turn to those who are children, and patiently and lovingly feed the lambs. Which brings me to the verse of Scripture Spurgeon points out for this call to “feed the lambs”
“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” ” (John 21:15, ESV)
So both parents of children, or teachers of spiritually-younger Christians are called by our Lord Jesus Christ to provide spiritual food. By doing this, not only are we loving those who we care for, but we are also loving Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord and King.
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