what happened to helping the fatherless, orphans, and widows?

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[graceforall]

did not the new testament church do that? 

Reading over something Rick Witney wrote about raising children.

"The Three Positions"

"Dear Dads,

"At times, a father will ask me, “Just tell me straight, Rick.  What exactly do you insist on, when it comes to your own teens?  What are some practical habits that you always go back to, while training your sons and daughters?”   Well, here goes.  There are only three things that I insist upon, when it comes to both my daughter’s and my son’s - growth and progress in the faith.  And all three of these habits help to “position” my teens.  First, ‘positioned’  before God.  Second, ‘positioned’  between their God and their friends.  And third, ‘positioned’ alongside other believers as their servant....

“…Number one. I insist that my children journal every day….  Number two. I insist that my children pray every day for their lost friends….  Number three.  I insist that my children come to serve other believers every week….

“With these three action points, I have tried to build discipline and obedience into their lives. 
1.  I insist that they respond to God by writing down what they think God is trying to say to them.  2.  I insist that they look upon themselves as “princes among thieves” and always be aware that they are here to win souls.  3.  I insist that they look on fellow Christians as their betters and that they look on themselves as the servant.” 


Ok, so I know there are several things concerning about what he wrote.  The one thing sticking out to me right now is how much the church is like an idol itself in GCM.  Rick wants children to serve other believers.  Nothing about helping the poor or anything else.  The church.  “Princes” looking to be king..."between their God and their friends."

[Huldah]

Well, I guess it's a good sign that the kids are allowed to have unsaved friends, instead of being totally isolated from non-Christians. However, the journaling requirement makes me uneasy.

First, it seems like just one more instance of that old GC attitude, "If a leader finds it helpful, it becomes mandatory for everyone else." The leaders fundamentally don't trust the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of individuals, especially in ways that are foreign to the leaders' own experience.

Second, teens have a high need for personal privacy. It's part of the process of becoming an independent adult. That makes it a bit creepy to insist that your kids commit their innermost thoughts to paper, where they can be potentially be monitored by the parents. I don't know Rick so I would never accuse him of violating his kids' privacy without cause, but there are some parents who would abuse their children's privacy merely on principle, hence my distaste for mandatory journaling.