Eleven-Year-Old Boy Ordained as Minister: Too Young... or Too Awesome?
SodaHead News
2012/06/22 21:00:00
|
|
|||||
|
803 votes
|
|
71% | |||
|
330 votes
|
|
29% | |||
When Ezekiel Stoddard was ordained as a minister at the Fullness of Time Church in Capitol Heights, Maryland, last month it was a unique celebration -- one that turned heads and raised questions. Why? Because Ezekiel is just 11 years old. According to "Good Morning America," the son of two pastors decided to become a minister at this very young age when God spoke to him in a dream.
The young minister said, "God gave me that particular scripture [Psalm 23] because a lot of people, they try to draw you away from the Lord, trying to get you on the wrong path." When asked if people thought it was strange, he said, "People come to you, they ask you questions about why you should act like a child and not a minister. I do things like a child, but still I am a minister. I am an evangelical." But do you think Stoddard is too young to take on the role of a minister?
The young minister said, "God gave me that particular scripture [Psalm 23] because a lot of people, they try to draw you away from the Lord, trying to get you on the wrong path." When asked if people thought it was strange, he said, "People come to you, they ask you questions about why you should act like a child and not a minister. I do things like a child, but still I am a minister. I am an evangelical." But do you think Stoddard is too young to take on the role of a minister?
Top Opinion
-
Your Favorite Nerd Guru 2012/06/22 21:55:40
btw, where is it written that I owe you any favors? Your ignorance of the Bible is between you and God.
This is exploitation at its best.
People always tell me belief is natural and if that is the case, then this child could have been born to atheist, Jewish, Mormon, or any other faith he would have picked Christianity without going to Sunday School.
I'm just suspicious of religion in general when they insist on molding children before they have an ability to think for themselves. In America you can't drink till you are 21 as it's deemed to be harmful, I sometimes wonder why that wasn't extended to religion so the people in question can learn about other faiths before they blindly commit to the some one everyone else around them believes in.
It's important that children be taught from an early age what is right & wrong, about God, morals, Jesus Christ, etc. They still must make a decision & choice at some point in their lives. No one can make it for them. We will all be held accountable to God for what we teach our children. If we are wrong, there will be consequences.
Your job as a citizen of a free country is to live & let live. As long as people aren't doing anything to hurt you & yours, you should allow them the freedom & privacy they deserve. Christians need to learn this, also. We each will be judged one day by God, & there won't be anyone else to stand up for us or bail us out.
btw, I do not follow Jesus Christ "blindly". That is an anti-theist mantra that anti-theists seem to follow "blindly", without understanding what they are even talking about. Don't knock what you are ignorant of, & don't assume you know something that you don't. Religion is evil & we all reap what we sow.
"A person cannot be a Christian until they have reached the age of accountability" And yet, look at this kid. No doubt he will "choose" Christianity because his parents forced him into it while he was young and susceptible. That's how ALL religion continues to this day. If everyone were to wait until the age of reason and accountability, we'd have done away with religion hundreds of years ago, and we would be better off without it.
Also, God also tells us that we should respect others' free-will & privacy, & fundamentalists seem to ignore God where this is concerned, including their stance on abortion rights. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water by denouncing Christianity as some horrible religion, when all along it is those who misinterpret God's Word who are at fault. They WILL not go undisciplined by God.
In regard to your last paragraph, I was not raised a Christian & yet "chose" that route after much research & study at the ripe old age of '17'. Being raised in a barn does not automatically make one a farm animal, nor does being raised in a certain belief system mandate they remain in that belief. Also, the "age of accountability", for most, is around age 10-12, depending on the maturity of the child & how well they can understand abstract concepts. I know many children raised in Christian homes who "left the ...&&&
&
Also, God also tells us that we should respect others' free-will & privacy, & fundamentalists seem to ignore God where this is concerned, including their stance on abortion rights. Don't throw out the baby with the bath water by denouncing Christianity as some horrible religion, when all along it is those who misinterpret God's Word who are at fault. They WILL not go undisciplined by God.
In regard to your last paragraph, I was not raised a Christian & yet "chose" that route after much research & study at the ripe old age of '17'. Being raised in a barn does not automatically make one a farm animal, nor does being raised in a certain belief system mandate they remain in that belief. Also, the "age of accountability", for most, is around age 10-12, depending on the maturity of the child & how well they can understand abstract concepts. I know many children raised in Christian homes who "left the church" after high school & moved away from home, & others who were raised as atheists, but knew there was more, searched for the 'truth', & found their salvation in Jesus Christ.
You're right, we would all be better off without "religion", as it IS "evil"; however, without Jesus Christ we are a lost world. Believe as you will, but at least stop with the anti-theist mantras & propaganda. If Christians were perfect, they would not need a Savior.
Better yet, we should show up on their front doors and bible thumb them into converting to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. At least that is a fun religion.
SHUT the HECK UP!!!!!!!!
And
WISE UP.
If you don't like your life FIX IT!!!!!!! If you don't that is YOUR problem not mine.
To go through life with a BOULDER on your SHOULDER is a WASTED LIFE. Move on.
Looks to me you're people do well and PAY no taxes.
Human progress STOPS. Ignorance takes hold. Next thing you know their burning people as Witches
How far back does one go? How many years must pass in order for blame to no longer be passed forward to the next generation?
What we can do is hold them accountable for their own actions and behaviors.
WISE UP and stop being "ERISTIC"