Let us consider what constitutes believing children.

First, let me tackle an error that has crept into many places that says an elder must have multiple children. Right off the bat, that argument can be discounted. In the congregation that I grew up, there was a school across the street with a large playground. Suppose we were having a potluck and the kids were across the road playing. A storm began to brew and I came in an announced, "Those who have children outside, there is a storm coming up. You might want to go get them in." How utterly senseless would it be for a person with only one child to say, "He wasn't talking to me. I only have one child."

Since Paul was speaking of elders plural, he must also of necessity speak of children in the same sense. It would be cumbersome language at best for him to say it any other way.

The Greek also bears this out. Those with more access to the Greek, feel free to post it here, but from what I have read, the word for "child" and "children" is used interchangibly throughout Scripture. This shows that Paul was speaking of however many children the elder had--be it one or a dozen.

The argument is advanced that each child is different. Any of us as parents understand the truth in that statement. An elder should have multiple children so he can know how to deal with multiple personalities. The Greek word for that argument is "hogwash." Each of us over time learns how to deal with folks as individuals. If by the time we have reached an advanced age to serve as an elder and we have not learned this valuable lesson, then we are disqualified for lack of wisdom.

A second error in the church regards the word believing. Can a person be considered a believer if they do not attend the Lord's church? Can they be a believer if they have never been immersed?

Let Jesus answer the question. Mark 15:16, "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. He that does not believe shall be damned."

If I am a believer, I have allowed that belief (faith) to motivate me to obey and be immersed for the remission of my sins. If one has not done this, he can think what we wants about the Lord, but he is not numbered among the believers until his belief has made him obedient, i.e. a true believer.

Having done this, if I cast my lot with those who are not teaching the Bible as it is written, I cannot be considered a true believer b/c I am not acting in obedience.

Therefore, I understand that a believing child must be a part of the Lord's body and must assemble faithfully with His church.

Can an elder's child sin? Most certainly. We hold them to a higher standard, but there is nothing in Scripture that of necessity does this. Life in the fishbowl is not Scriptural, save for teachers themselves ("Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we will face a harsher judgement").

That having been said, as long as an elder's child is attempting to walk in the light, they should be considered qualifiers. If they repent, they should be forgiven. Only when a child walks away from the faith and cannot be brought back should an elder resign. I submit that an elder's child could bear a prison sentence without disqualifying his father, provided that 1. He bears fruits of repentence (for then he can no longer be accused of dissipation) 2. The congregation and community it serves can allow the man to serve. It is an individual situation each time. There can be no blanket rule.

One more thought of believing children. If a man has multiple children, must each one of them believe to qualify him? If I have twelve children and 11 believe and the other one is a decent guy, but not a churchgoer, can I still serve?

Many would say yes, for the elder in question would have believing children. But I still have one unbelieving child. As I read and understand, it would be a disqualifier b/c at best it would be a stumbling block for others.

A concluding thought and a question: If I have two children and I have served faithfully as an elder for many years and my children die, must I step down?

Certainly, a widowed elder must step down. But is it any different with deceased children? If I have successfully raised my children to adulthood and they marry, have children, all of whom are believers and they depart this life before me, am I disqualified? I would submit that I am not, for I raised my children and they qualified me. I'd enterain thoughts on this issue as it is not clear-cut.

Thoughts on believing children?