Obedience

Lady of Light

In Ephesians, Chapter 6:1:3, it tells us:

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with proise. That it may be well with thee and thou mayest live long on the earth."

At first glance, one may think that these verses only applies to children who are still under the control of their parents - minor children. After meditating on these verses, I believe this applies to all children who have parents - alive or deceased. We can always remember the good things that our parents taught us by example, and trained us to do in live - good values, good manners, good speech, good habits etc. Also, how we speak and live in memory of them when they pass away is important too in terms of honoring them. There is much we can do to produce a positive legacy of our parents for our own children and grandchildren as well. I believe that all of these things are included in these verses as well as to read them to young children and instruct them in the same way.

God bless you and have a great day!

Lady of Light

Church or Jail???

CHURCH OR JAIL???

According to the Huffington Post Religion/AOL News, offenders in Bay Minette, Alabama can choose Jail or Church for a year for misdemeanors - to work off the sentence by paying a fine and jail or go to church every Sunday for one year. Offenders can pick the place of worship but must check in weekly with the pastor and police.
There is some controversy about this program. Executive Director of the Alabama Branch of the ACLU, Olivia Turners says:

"It violates the Constitution, based on the Fundamental Principle of the Establishment Clause that says that Government cannot force someone to attend church. When the alternative to going to church is jail, the so-called choice is not a choice at all."

There are 56 congregations participating in the effort.

One must look at this objection in the light that the person is not going to jail for refusing to go to church - they are going to jail for the misdemeanor that they committed initially. That is the reality - the offer to attend church is an offer of grace and an opportunity for spiritual growth and change - even repentance.