A Call to Responsibility with children and new believers.

   When we open Scripture, there are both clear and deeper applications that confront how we live. One obvious and important application is the responsibility to bring our children to the Lord in order to ensure they are given the opportunity to know Him from a young age. A  second is proper  teaching and  shepherding of vulnerable new believers  who are "spiritual children" This is not merely about routine, but about spiritual stewardship In the Gospel of Matthew 18:3–7, Jesus  speaks " And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!" and the in Luke 18 15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 

   He warns that whoever causes the “little ones” ,Children and spiritual children, who believe in Him to stumble would be better off with a millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the sea. This is a sobering statement. It reveals how seriously Christ views the spiritual well-being of the vulnerable, especially children and new believers. From this, we can understand a strong responsibility placed on parents. To neglect guiding children toward Christ is not a neutral act. When parents consistently withhold opportunities for their children to encounter God—whether through church, teaching, or example—they risk limiting their child’s exposure to the truth. While some may say they do not want to “force religion” on their children, this choice can also mean withholding access to something eternally significant. Scripture urges us to consider the weight of that responsibility. Do you read them the Word of God ? take them to Sunday School ? to church ? Live as a true believer in front of them? What do you think God thinks every Sunday or every Sabbath when you fail to bring your children to church or teach them about Jesus. When we do this we are like Jesus followers who held the children back in ,Mathew and Luke, and were corrected.

   Secondly, this passage speaks beyond parenting and addresses the broader issue of spiritual influence, especially teaching. In today’s world, countless voices on platforms in social media and older forms of media claim to speak truth, yet many distort Scripture for personal gain, cultural approval, power , fame or superficial engagement. There are a multitude of false teachers, social media preachers,and influencers who preach a distorted "Christian " message. Some we recognize are people that can be mistaken but are not being malicious.  The Bible gives clear warnings about this. In 2 Timothy 4:3–5, Paul writes: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine… they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” Likewise, James 3:1 cautions: “Not many of you should become teachers… because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” 

  These passages remind us that teaching is not a casual role. It carries eternal weight. Those who handle the Word of God are accountable not only for their own understanding, but also for how they influence others, especially those who are new in their faith or searching for truth. Distorting Scripture, whether out of greed, carelessness, mistaken without being malicious or just a desire to fit cultural trends,can lead others astray. This is precisely the kind of stumbling that Jesus warns against. Teachers who knowingly mislead others  violate the serious responsibility they have before God. 

  Therefore, both parents and teachers share a common calling, to handle matters of faith with sincerity, humility, and reverence. Parents are called to guide their children toward Christ, not away from Him. Teachers are called to present truth faithfully, not reshape it according to personal preference or popular opinion.The " littel ones are both the children in chronological age but also spiritual children"  in the faith. The warnings in Scripture are not given lightly. They are meant to awaken a sense of urgency and responsibility. Faith is not a trivial matter, and neither is the influence we have over others. Whether in the home or in public teaching, we are called to act with care, knowing that our words and choices can have lasting spiritual impact. The BIBLE says in Luke 18 15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God'". 

  One day we all will have to give an account before God. Those who are redeemed and saved may have to live for eternity with the memory of those that are possibly lost , including thier children, because of their foolishness and neglect, if they are not true believers then that "millstone" may probably mean a much harsher judgement from God.   

Edited/Written by SSligh blog creator/moderator