Many
congregations give opportunities to young boys (who have not yet obeyed the
gospel in baptism) to read or recite scriptures and to lead prayers and songs in front of
the assembled church. Is this biblical? Does this set a dangerous precedent for
non-christian adults or others who are not scripturally qualified to exercise
leadership in the church?
Male leadership and leadership training
are certainly biblical concepts (Mark 3:14; Luke 11:1-4; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 2 Timothy 2:2; etc.). Thus
preparing boys to be future leaders does not fit into the same category as opening
doors to non-christian adults or female leaders. While we respect divinely
ordained gender roles, we must also appreciate that culpability
and innocence before God distinguishes boys from non-christian men. Prior to
reaching the age of accountability,1 a child is not guilty of sin or
separated from God and is thus spiritually safe.2
It is my judgment that the practice of
pre-christian boys leading in worship activities does not set a “dangerous
precedent” but rather a biblical precedent of training future church leaders
(cf. 1 Samuel 2:11, 18; Proverbs 22:6; Ecclesiastes 12:1; 1 Timothy 4:12 and 2
Timothy 3:14-15).
--Kevin L. Moore
Endnotes:
1 Seeing that individuals develop and mature at varying
rates, a specific age is not biblically prescribed. Nevertheless, a state of
innocence prior to reaching a point at which one is accountable before God is
clearly assumed in scripture: Deuteronomy 1:39; Numbers 8:2-3; 10:28; 14:29-31; Isaiah 7:15-16; John 9:21, 23; cf. Ezekiel 18:20; 28:15; Ecclesiastes 7:29; 1 John 3:4; 1 Corinthians 13:11; Luke 2:40-52.
2 On the spiritual security of young children, see Deuteronomy 1:39; Matthew 18:1-5; 19:13-14; Mark 9:33-37; 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 14:20.
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