Raise a Child in the Way
At YH, we have many distinctives. Yes, one of those is we believe God's Laws, appropriately understood and applied (like Jesus), is for us and our children. In fact, Jesus told us, "whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble (skandalizó: to trip up, to entice to sin), it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea" (Mt 18:6). Therefore, we take teaching our children in the Way of Jesus very seriously.
But serious and silly, we've found, are not mutually-exclusive! At YH, we let kids be kids. They are noisy. They are learning. They make plenty of mistakes. And because that's so, we we're constantly distinguishing between what the Bible calls childishness and foolishness. Childishness is silly and naive. It's when the milk spills because the child doesn't yet know to place his milk safely toward the center of the table. Foolishness, however, is when a child should know better, but pours the milk on the child next to him anyway.
It's not a free-for-all at YH. At the same time, children are a high value at YH and that value comes at a joyful cost. It's messy. It's loud. It sometimes breaks things. But it's all worth it to us. At YH, we've watched what lawlessness has done to our society. It's broken marriages. It's put people in debt. It's told our children inappropriate things about marriage, about freedom, and a long list of other things. At YH, we're determined to break that cycle.
But serious and silly, we've found, are not mutually-exclusive! At YH, we let kids be kids. They are noisy. They are learning. They make plenty of mistakes. And because that's so, we we're constantly distinguishing between what the Bible calls childishness and foolishness. Childishness is silly and naive. It's when the milk spills because the child doesn't yet know to place his milk safely toward the center of the table. Foolishness, however, is when a child should know better, but pours the milk on the child next to him anyway.
It's not a free-for-all at YH. At the same time, children are a high value at YH and that value comes at a joyful cost. It's messy. It's loud. It sometimes breaks things. But it's all worth it to us. At YH, we've watched what lawlessness has done to our society. It's broken marriages. It's put people in debt. It's told our children inappropriate things about marriage, about freedom, and a long list of other things. At YH, we're determined to break that cycle.
If you see a child's face, it's because parents have consented.
Biblical Families
Yahweh told us His ideal. Either a man or woman stay single for the purpose of being specially set-apart for Kingdom purposes or a man and a woman marry for the purpose of reflecting the covenantal relationship the Son (Jesus) has with the bride (His followers). And while we understand people will come to YH without that understanding (to which we'll extend appropriate grace), we are also committed to unashamedly promoting God's way of doing things — for God's ways are right and good!
So the question becomes, what if my present lifestyle isn't in alignment with this value, but I'm curious about Jesus and His Kingdom? May I attend? Well, that depends. If you're at a place in life where you're willing to repent (or at least consider it) and turn from anything God calls sin, then yes. That standard, by the way, is the same for all of us. But if you're heart is dead set against the things of God, then we advise you wait until that changes.
So the question becomes, what if my present lifestyle isn't in alignment with this value, but I'm curious about Jesus and His Kingdom? May I attend? Well, that depends. If you're at a place in life where you're willing to repent (or at least consider it) and turn from anything God calls sin, then yes. That standard, by the way, is the same for all of us. But if you're heart is dead set against the things of God, then we advise you wait until that changes.
More Costly Than Gold
Oh-my-goodness! Our teachers are precious to us! At YH, we're a family. Everyone ministers. Everyone serves. And it's not the drudgery-rote type of service. It's who we are. When Yeshua said to His disciples, "a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him," we totally get it. In the same way Yeshua served us, we want to serve Him! Further, something happens to a person when the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit) begins to animate a person's life — we naturally begin to love God and love neighbor as ourselves. And since that's true, service becomes a joy.
But there's something special about our children's teachers. Because they at once know and walk in the commandments of our God and see the value in nurturing that understanding in the next generation, they selflessly pour themselves into our children. The result is children who feel loved, understood, and are growing in righteousness.
Another group we'd like to highlight is the quality of our parents. Our parents at once understand that it's their job to disciple their children, but that it's also important to allow other God-fearing men and women co-disciple. It really is a team effort. We are a family. A fellowship. Not a program. We are a like-minded community, and you're children are an important to us as our children. That's just the way we roll.
But there's something special about our children's teachers. Because they at once know and walk in the commandments of our God and see the value in nurturing that understanding in the next generation, they selflessly pour themselves into our children. The result is children who feel loved, understood, and are growing in righteousness.
Another group we'd like to highlight is the quality of our parents. Our parents at once understand that it's their job to disciple their children, but that it's also important to allow other God-fearing men and women co-disciple. It really is a team effort. We are a family. A fellowship. Not a program. We are a like-minded community, and you're children are an important to us as our children. That's just the way we roll.
