Eleven-Year-Old Boy Ordained as Minister: Too Young... or Too Awesome?
SodaHead News
2012/06/22 21:00:00
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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
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Your Favorite Nerd Guru 2012/06/22 21:55:40
Let the boy speak the word of the lord IN PEACE.
The problem is that we have too many people in leadership who are not mature (spiritually) Christians. So they are not raising mature Christians in a church. So to put him right up front makes him a BIG target for satan.
When God tells you something this important, He will tell two or more people outside your family who are mature spiritually in the church family. If this did not occur, then you might want wait because satan likes to trap children early to lead them into being filled with self importance.
In the Bible, unlike today, the "Bishops" ( also translated as overseers, and elders) were the "ministers" of the church.
These qualifications below, are taken directly from the Bible qualifications for church leadership>>
A list of qualifications for leaders in the church.
(You can find this in first Timothy the third chapter and other places in the New Testament Bible. I urge you to read them.)
"Blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man do...
The problem is that we have too many people in leadership who are not mature (spiritually) Christians. So they are not raising mature Christians in a church. So to put him right up front makes him a BIG target for satan.
When God tells you something this important, He will tell two or more people outside your family who are mature spiritually in the church family. If this did not occur, then you might want wait because satan likes to trap children early to lead them into being filled with self importance.
In the Bible, unlike today, the "Bishops" ( also translated as overseers, and elders) were the "ministers" of the church.
These qualifications below, are taken directly from the Bible qualifications for church leadership>>
A list of qualifications for leaders in the church.
(You can find this in first Timothy the third chapter and other places in the New Testament Bible. I urge you to read them.)
"Blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."
Notice the words "NOT A NOVICE." I am not saying you can't be called at an early age. But you really have to be very careful with it and have training and guidance from VERY SPIRITUALLY MATURE Christians. And a very strong spiritual hedge of protection must be around this child.
He is just spouting words without understanding.
One can love God all one wants, but understanding and wisdom comes with age and study, and this new minister has neither.
Just remember the theme of Father Devine's gig on the Detroit station back in the '60's:
"Ah's needs MONEY! Don't want no pennies! Can't buy tires fo mah Cadillac with dem pennies!"
I've seen young pastors before, very nice young men but they really knew very little more than I did. I have doubts about bestowing the title of "Pastor" or "Reverend" on anyone younger than 30 (which was also about the age which Jesus began his ministry by the way).
Let him grow up into those shoes. I would not want to see the young man who is called "Reverend" next week embarass himself or his flock by getting a few young ladies pregnant in about six or seven years.
Seems that there have already been way too many similar scandals by "Reverends" who were old enough to know better.
I don't know what He did during that time. There is speculation, but no proof, that He spent at least some the time with Joseph of Aramathea living in Egypt.
There is also a book which brings up the possibility that he spent some of his younger years in Britain; The Drama of the Lost Disciples by George F. Jowett may be interesting reading to you. I don't know for sure but I'll not simply throw out the possibility. Joseph is said to have had tin mines in Britain so why not take his young nephew there?
He might have served in the Auxilaries of the Roman Army or possibly even the Temple Guard. In the military we sometimes used the term "since Christ was a Corporal." Example, "Hey Bob, good to see you again! I've not seen you since Christ was a Corporal!" I wonder if that is based partially on military service he may have served in?
You are right. We don't know but Jowett's book mentions a shrine which he built for his mother which a church has since been built up around. If I remember correctly the shrine was built when he was a very young man.
Take a look at the book, you might enjoy it. I did.
Very Best to you!
But lets not forget he is only eleven years old.
Everything will come in time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?...
Not being privy to his mind, what God has to say through him, I believe that God would inspire him if someone came to ask his advice on something spiritual.
There are some things where "I" think he might be limited, but for me to presume I know what God intends, I can't even imagine it.
"....but for me to presume I know what God intends, I can't even imagine it." Bless you, Bob. Many religious people violate this very simple concept - to presume to know what God intends or thinks - which leads to a great many problems in our world.
Note that among those children who are not force-fed religion, a vastly greater number choose rationality and atheism over blind faith in a contradictory, intellectually escapist belief system.
It's a shame that parents indoctrinate their children with religion in this day and age.