Was Paul speaking to kids as well as adults in Philippians 1-2?

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Very true - the most mature person is the one who trusts in God regardless...

That becomes necessary for the kids who find themselves in those situations and probably why the strongest Christian are found in wartorn countries where persecution is faced every day. They don't have the bibles and seminaries but when God reaches them it's an experience. It's not about what denomination places what jargon on what teaching to explain what phenomenon that coincides with whom. To them it just is and for that as a beginning for them, teachers are needed to come in. I'm glad that you keep the issues forefront in people's minds.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

It all starts in our own backyards doesn't it? I grew up in an area where that was a renowned term whenever anyone wanted to joke about evil. The kids I grew up with became either Hell's angels or dope dealers. There was no church to bail a few out. And those places that you speak of have worse circumstances to deal with. The kids that manage to escape are labeled and rejected. There's a glaring lack of help to bring them thru. Our church is affiliated with some but there is never enough.

But back to helping those who we can where we are. Abraham for instance was responsible for those who were within his gates and I believe that's our commission too. Not everyone can help all, but one can help some. I have an inner city kids group that I'm just starting up with, mostly doing research on resourses etc, but I'll be glad that I'm doing something to help the kids. I think it needs to be there that they can become influenced the easiest.

I think it's awesome that you and your church are ng work with inner-city kids as you're doing. Part of my career in Human Services involved doing a lot of ministry in that world and helping others realize what kids in lower-income settings go through - some simply do not care, unfortnately, yet still talk down to the kids like they are just kids when those children have to be amazingly resourceful and are already dealing with adult issues.

The same goes for children in areas where there is persecution.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

That becomes necessary for the kids who find themselves in those situations and probably why the strongest Christian are found in wartorn countries where persecution is faced every day. They don't have the bibles and seminaries but when God reaches them it's an experience. It's not about what denomination places what jargon on what teaching to explain what phenomenon that coincides with whom. To them it just is and for that as a beginning for them, teachers are needed to come in. I'm glad that you keep the issues forefront in people's minds.

So true as you noted - God has often had to do exceptional things in their cases when they lacked many of the things we took for granted. God is always able to take what seems to be too little and make it more than enough - and no one can convince those children or kids (or teens) that the Lord is not real when they have met with him.

But it is still saddening when seeing the children in what they go through...

Nigeria: The young victims of Christian persecution - YouTube

And when it comes to the children being harmed by adults as well as children, I cannot help but be reminded of what Jesus said when saying that because of Him “brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.” (Mk 13:12).

On a side note, I appreciated what someone else said elsewhere as it concerns child-saints - as seen here in Child Saints as Role Models for Children | Catholicism Pure & Simple :

A saint does not have to die young in order to be a role model for children and adolescents of course, and many of the most popular saints lived well into adulthood. Yet there is something appealing in a child saint, having the wisdom and intrepidity (because this is indeed what it takes) to discover God’s love early in life, and “leaving all to follow Him”.

Youth is no barrier to holiness, and mere children can become saints. The call to holiness begins at Baptism; we do not have to wait for old age and grey hair to serve God. Youthful saints tell us something about sanctity, and their example is especially luminous as they dedicate their young lives to God. Youngsters need flesh and blood heroes to admire, whose courage, determination and great love of God and his Church, have been their incentive to overcome temptation and difficulties. The example of the saints counters that of the straw idols that are all too often the only ones they are offered nowadays.

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Be it with Martyr Sophia and her three daughters at Rome, The Nine Martyred Children of Kola, the Chinese Martyrs of the Boxer Rebellion or the Martyrs in Japan or the children of slaves in the Americas who were beaten for their faith/challenging injustice in their governments or those elsewhere in the world, we need to remember to honor the kids. For more on child saints, I'd suggest one go here:

• Child Saints - Asian Saints

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[Gxg (G²)]

That becomes necessary for the kids who find themselves in those situations and probably why the strongest Christian are found in wartorn countries where persecution is faced every day.

Some of the strongest kids can be found in the rough parts of the inner-city as well.

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

It certainly does seem that the basic message is meant for all, but I don't get the implication that all the roles in the church (re: the pic of the kid preacher) are open to children as well as adults, especially when the same Paul outlined the qualifications for that and there are distinctions made between adult men and adult women.

This ^

 

[MKJ]

I don't think I would consider teen marriages as child marriages. The idea of the teenager is frankly a 20th century western development, in most other times and places people of that age were considered young adults. Still needing some guidance from the elders of the family or community, but ready to take on work, marriage, child-rearing, and other kinds of adult responsibilities and obligations.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

I don't think I would consider teen marriages as child marriages. The idea of the teenager is frankly a 20th century western development, in most other times and places people of that age were considered young adults. Still needing some guidance from the elders of the family or community, but ready to take on work, marriage, child-rearing, and other kinds of adult responsibilities and obligations.

The definitions of what children were before in antiquity and how they are today is quite significant - and I can definitely see where you're coming from on the issue..

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Interesting...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nHmfMLTEBg

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Thank the Lord that God used Christ as a baby, in honor of Christmas

 

[Gxg (G²)]

5 Child Saints Who Totally Put All of Us Adults to Shame | ChurchPOP