Does this trouble you as much as it does me?

ToBeBlessed said:

Since many large churches are passed down to their son's I would think that you would be very popular among many large churches. They've probably done it, but seems those kids are rarely devoted to it and it's more like a business.

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I'm really not concerned with my popularity among large churches. My home church is very small. There's typically only 20-30 people at any given service, and that's the way I prefer it.

I think that as parents that it is extremely important that we train up our children. I believe that includes teaching them how to hear and heed the voice of God. If we never give them the opportunity to express what they believe God is saying to them, or worse still, call CPS and have the child taken away from the parents for... some reason, then we are simply training up another group of pew sitters who will not recognize the voice of God or know how to follow His leading.

I'm not ignorant to the fact there are excesses and it's very possible that the video in the OP is an example of excess, but I've never been a fan of throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater.

JimB said:

Fair reply, Pete.

I don't only think it's "damaging" to children, I think it’s a form of child abuse akin the toddler beauty pageants and is something CPS needs to look into. FYI, here are a few links that support this view:

God Confusion: Child Preachers - Exploited Kids

Exploitation: Children in the Pulpit - RagingRev.com

How Do Child Beauty Pageants Affect a Child's Development? | Everyday Life - Global Post

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Skimming your links, I think we're talking about 2 different things.

The links seem to be talking about parents who make a career preacher out of their child at a young age. Your first link talks about a child ordained at age 6! I would agree that is extreme and excessive and likely even "damaging". I do not believe that a 6-year old child should be an ordained minister under any circumstances.

However, what I am talking about is teaching and allowing children to be used of God, not setting them up as any kind of authority figure, but recognizing and cultivating the gifts that God has placed in them from a very young age. I believe it is our responsibility as parents to help our children discover their God-given gifts and abilities and encourage them to use them.

I know there will always be fruits, nuts and flakes out there that do things like this, but I prefer to focus on the good that can come when a child truly learns how to hear and heed the voice of God.

probinson said:

I'm really not concerned with my popularity among large churches. My home church is very small. There's typically only 20-30 people at any given service, and that's the way I prefer it.

I think that as parents that it is extremely important that we train up our children. I believe that includes teaching them how to hear and heed the voice of God. If we never give them the opportunity to express what they believe God is saying to them, or worse still, call CPS and have the child taken away from the parents for... some reason, then we are simply training up another group of pew sitters who will not recognize the voice of God or know how to follow His leading.

I'm not ignorant to the fact there are excesses and it's very possible that the video in the OP is an example of excess, but I've never been a fan of throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater.

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Don't take it offensively.

JimB said:

I understand. My concern is for children exploited by adults. Sometimes it is for financial reasons, sometimes it is just for our own amusement. But I do agree that God uses everyone—sons and daughters, young and old, smart and otherwise—for the advancement of his kingdom (as I did say in a previous post). But a three-year-old dressed in a suit and tie, pacing back and forth toting a microphone, and growling P/C clichés he has only heard from adults and mimics for their amusement, seems no different to me from parents who dress their daughters like street-walkers, teach them that their value is in how they look, and parade them across stages in “beauty” contests. Both practices devalue people and teach children that their worth is in how they please/entertain others. That’s my point.

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I agree with you here but watching the video didn't give us any insight into the parents or the children. I would hesitate to judge bc I have never seen or known anyone that has been gifted like this and the style of preaching isn't my preference.
What I find odd is they all seem to have one style... that hell fire and brimstone preaching loud with the strut... I call it the Pentecostal strut - it exudes pride... just an opinion, I have no idea what its like to be on stage preaching but it kinda bothers me.

Would you want to stop this? I just don't know, if its of God than it won't be stopped but it would worry me how it effects the child. Much like child celebrities grow into problem adults. The raspy voice thingy is bothersome... why would someone anointed by God to preach need to change their voice to preach? But again, I can't know what they've been exposed to or who is benefitting from this? If people are blessed or if there are ulterior motives ??
Can't judge from a distance.

If this is happening within a denomination, I would think someone should have some oversight... for the child's sake and the congregations

God bless, andrea

This reminds me of how some mothers, have their super young daughters, enter those beauty pagents, wearing lustful atire, makeup, the whole bit, they look like they are on a catwalk.

Frogster said:

This reminds me of how some mothers, have their super young daughters, enter those beauty pagents, wearing lustful atire, makeup, the whole bit, they look like they are on a catwalk.

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Yeah...like MEOW!

I am bothered by these videos of kids doing this 'cause to me it feels like they are like trained monkeys and hardly fit the requirements Paul laid out for us in what we need to look for in a leader.

Alpine said:

Yeah...like MEOW!

I am bothered by these videos of kids doing this 'cause to me it feels like they are like trained monkeys and hardly fit the requirements Paul laid out for us in what we need to look for in a leader.

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More than a fair point you make.