Hey Gonz....
Interestin' to observe that children payin' for the "sins of the fathers", is what ya find most disturbin'.
Aside from the fact that none of us really want our children to suffer, for their own sins, much less those that we do.
Is it so strange to understand that the bad choices we make, most affect the lives of those who love us most?
This holy God who promises to punish for sin, at least had the courtosey to warn us, knowin' full well that we can niether fully comprehend His ways, nor the fact that sin cannot stand in His presence, yet THAT is exactly where He wants us to stand.
He loves us that much!
Exodus 20:5, referrin' to the commandments given to Moses, describes God's jealous love for us, which is where He mentions that forsakin' Him for other "gods" will insure that even our children will pay a high price for these acts of self-reliance an' self indulgences.
My view is that this concept is less about God tryin' to be a "meany", an' more about the fact that He knows full well that livin' a selfish/self-reliant life, only leads us into an empty state of painful existance, devoid of purpose an' meaning. He does not want to see His children suffer.
God is so, all about tryin' to show folks this stubborn, illogcal, passionate, unfailing love that He has for us all.
IF the mother, in the story above, made a commitment to conform with the school's rules, then broke her commitment, the child will "pay" by learnin' early in life, that commitment is to be compromised or taken lightly, thus the ever increasin' stats. of unwed/teen births, divorce rate, etc. , not to mention the implications of the mother's example of self-degredation. What a "wonderful" path for this little one to follow as she grows up an' begins to identify her own selfworth.
Yet we think that God should jus' look away, while His children reap the harvest of sorrow that follows the "pain-bringing" choices we make.
I thought, with the info. ya shared, the church offered some degree of "grace" by givin' her a second chance. Although, I'm still confused about prohibitin' her attendence. Teachin' a sunday-school class or somethin' perhaps, but not attendence, that's shallow, an' not a true reflection of Christ's example of love.
Who knows what REALLY happen there? Question I ask is, are we willin' to forsake our stubborn, self-righteous existance, long enough to give proper consideration to the awesome love the Maker of men has for people? Perhaps His ways ARE higher than ours........
