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FOUNDATIONS*97**whether* it* was* from* an* apostle,* an* angel,* or* anyone* else.* Are* we* to* give*children*a*share*in*this*responsibility?**The*removal*of*a*pastor*who*has*abandoned*the*gospel*is*one*of*the*most*painful* actions* that* any* church* may* ever* have* to* take.* Should* not* those*whom*we*would*not*even*recognise*as*legally*being*mature*enough*to*get*married* be* put* potentially* under* such* a* weighty* and* heart:wrenching*responsibility* as* this?* Would* it* not* rather* be* wiser* to* shield* them* –* allow*them*to*grow*to*greater*maturity*without*such*great*responsibilities?***The%responsibilities%of%the%family%%Love*and*authority*are*to*be*experienced*by*children*from*their*parents,*not*only*where*discipline*is*necessary,*but*in*through*every*area*of*childhood. 16 *Parents*are*responsible*for*bringing*up*their*children.*It*is*true*that*all*wise*parents* will* grant* their* children* increasing* responsibilities,* privileges* and*freedoms.**I* have* recently* allowed* my* oldest* child* her* first* trip* to* a* High* Street*shopping* centre* with* a* similar:aged* friend.* The* temptation* as* a* father* to*follow*on*my*bicycle*at*a*short*distance,*or*to*phone*her*every*five*minutes*was*almost*too*much*to*resist!*Parents*must*allow*their*children*to*grow*in*responsibility.*Parents*may*also*choose*to*incorporate*many*other*influences*upon*their*children’s*lives*in*their*education*and*discipleship.*But*whether*a*parent* decides* to* educate* their* child* at* home* or* send* them* to* a* state* or*private*school,*it*is*the*parent*who*remains*responsible*for*them.*Similarly*parents*may*choose*different*ways*in*which*to*partner*with*the*ministries*provided*by*the*local*church*in*their*children’s*discipleship.*But*the*parents*remain*responsible.**This* all* changes* when* a* child* is* baptised* and* welcomed* into* church*membership.* Now* the* church* has% its% own* responsibilities* to* disciple* that*child.* Immediately* that* child* has* two* spiritual* authorities* in* their* life:* the*parents’*and*the*church’s.*Are*parents*ready*to*share*that*responsibility*with*the*church?*Ought*they*to*be*ready*for*that*in*the*case*of*a*10,*12*or*14*year*old?*Are*they,*in*fact,*partially*abdicating*a*responsibility*that*should*still*be*theirs*alone?*Is*the*lowering*of*the*age*of*baptism*and*church*membership*in*fact*a*recipe*for*undermining*the*responsibilities*of*parents*in*bringing*up*their* children* in* the* discipline* and* instruction* of* the* Lord,* for* they* see,*functionally*at*least,*that*this*has*now*become*the*church’s*job*and*no*longer*theirs? 17 **********************************************************************16*For* an* excellent* survey* of* Jesus’* and* Paul’s* teaching* on* the* family* see* Andreas* J.*Köstenberger,*and*David*W.*Jones,*God,%Marriage,%and%Family:%Rebuilding%the%Biblical%Foundation%(Wheaton:*Crossway,*2004)*109:128.*17*E.g.*Dennis*Rainey,*Charles*R.*Swindoll,*and*Roy*B.*Zuck,*Ministering%to%the%21st%Century%Family:%Eight%Big%Ideas%for%Church%Leaders*(Nashville:*W*PubGroup,*2001)*Chapter*8.*!