When the Pastor's Kids Rebel

# 29 – Today's Du-votional comes from 1Sa 2:11,12 Then Elkanah went to his house at Ramah. But the child ministered to the LORD before Eli the priest. 12 Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the LORD. (1 Sam 2:11,12) So the time has come for Samuel to begin his service to the Lord. He would learn under the not so watchful eye of Eli. Please note the very first thing we read about as Samuel begins his tutelage. The priests sons, whom Samuel would likely be bending elbows with, were corrupt. Eli had not done a very good job of keeping his sons under control. I think it's interesting to note that under New Testament guidelines, this character flaw in Eli would disqualify him from his position in the church. In Titus 1:6, and 1 Tim 3:4, we read of the qualifications of a man desiring the office of bishop: Tit 1:6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. “ And, 1Ti 3:4 “one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence” Many a church and pastor have wrestled with these passages when a rebellious PK (pastors kid) resists parental authority and lives a dissipated life ( a life without biblical restraint) What's a body to do in such instances? First of all, don't over-react. Over-reaction would've removed Billy Graham from the pulpit due to the rebellious ways of his son Franklin. Children rebel, whether they are sons of church leaders or not. The key is how is the rebellion handled? As long as the father doesn't look the other way, ( as Eli did) but rather seeks to take steps to correct the situation, he is demonstrating his ability to stay in office. Don't forget the reason why this stipulation for holding a church office is in place. 1Ti 3:5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?) A church leader must demonstrate his ability to discipline his children for the time will come when he will need to discipline his flock. Both are to be handled the same way. Always aiming for restoration.