Should We Really Brag About This? Baby "Preaching"
Here is a link to a video of a small baby “preaching.”
Here are the comments of the one posting the video.
“Kanon Tipton Preaching – World’s Youngest Preacher. This is the young grandson of Rev. David Tipton.
The following was written by his brother Devon —This is awesome. We had a powerful move of God in worship service, and Pastor Tipton was debating whether or not to preach. He said something about Kanon, so Kanon made his way to the platform to his poppy (Pastor). Dad just on a whim gave him the mic, and he started preaching. I was on the organ backin’ him up. It was really amazing because he was so sincere, and the whole church was on their feet clapping and backing his preaching up! While it was somewhat entertaining, it was also moving. Kind of reminds me of something I heard someone say one time..oh, what was it…something about train up a child in the way he should go…..:) I believe in that. What happened to the days when becoming a preacher was the most awesome and respected things in the world? I hope it’s coming back. Hope you enjoy!”
I’ll grant that this is cute. I love children. I have two precious children of my own and I love them greatly. I think it’s sweet when children are raised in church (provided that they hear the truth in the church where they attend) and have role models in the church and in their families.
Now, I’m not at all against training children. I think we do far too little of that. I will tell you , however, that I have no intention of my 2 year old son getting into the pulpit and doing that.
I’m afraid that this shows too little discernment on the part of the people who are “backing up” the child’s “preaching.”
Why?
1. Because it is obvious that volume takes precedence over content. They had no idea what he was saying. He was yelling, though, (like his grandfather does?) and they loved it. Yelling is obviously what moves them.
2. Cute? Yes, but why all of the “amens” if it were simply cute? No matter how sincere the cute (and he really is) little fellow was, he was speaking childish gibberish. Instead of respecting the pulpit (as the person stated), the truth is the grandfather, and all who were involved in encouraging the child, degraded the pulpit. Preaching is the timeless proclamation of God’s Word. It is not simply gibberish (articulated by an adult, or babbled by a child), preaching is a straightforward declaration of God’s Word that exposes us to the Scripture and then explains and applies the Scripture to our lives.
3. It seems that this commentator’s view of child training is lacking, too. Hitler could move a crowd with his speeches. Most children who are raised in church imitate their pastors at some time or another. Most children imitate their parents and grandparents some time in life. A child can/will be an imitator withou being trained in godliness. Here is the question: Is it not true that child training means that a child is being taught God’s Word, and shown how to walk in it? Let us not confuse imitation with child training.
4. Did you notice how that little fellow even did a little strut just like many Charismatic/Pentecostals do? He’s good at his imitations. Here is the question: Does the little boy ever see humility in the pulpit? Too many preachers strut. We have nothing to strut about. Chickens and turkeys do it naturally. Human beings normally do it because of pride. Let’s pray that this little boy will have humility modeled before him.
In the end, I’ll probably get some flames for this. I simply ask that you consider what is most important: Is it the Word of God being faithfully expounded or a high volume yelling and a low-pitched growl? What sort of model should be set before our children? Should it be the humble exposition of God’s Word and the humble modeling of that, or should it be a strutting, self-exalting, sign-seeking, feeling-seeking, religion?
The words are harsh, but so are the realities. We MUST determine what God values most and choose that above the lesser things.
Just musing…