17 Kids and Counting
 

I have been away for a while, and so I don't know if anyone has mentioned this TV Show. It is about a family with 17 kids, natural born between one man and one woman (pregnant with number 18) and they look EXACRY Like Apostolics.

I believe they do church in the home, no TV, and all the other stuff, but ironically they have their own little real-life TV show.

Does anyone know anything about this family and what they believe. Seeing their every day lives, they could be Apostolic, except for the most part everyone is always happy and smiling...

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/17-kids-...ar-family.html

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Well, yeah, but so were the Stepford wives...


Anyhow, I have friends that move in the same (religious) circles as they do, they are of the "house church" movement. They have a lot of similar beliefs as far as "standards" go, but I think the theology is very different.

Actually, the group that my friends are in live a VERY separated lifestyle, much more than most UC apostolics, with a few variations. They do believe in cutting the hair (trimming), and simple jewelery, but all of them home school and keep their children completely away from any outside influences.

Most believe in the "courtship" method of teenagers dating, it is a lot like arranged marriages. They like to have their own businesses, working for other people or companies is not common.

It is a very odd group from the outside looking in, but I do know that my friends are some of the most godly people that I know. It also has given me greater perspective on how the rest of the world sees traditional Apostolics.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

They aren't Pentecostal. One of the girls said once that people often ask if they are, and indicated that they aren't.

But hey, so what? They are doing something right.

If I knew having more kids meant having peace in my house, I wouldn't have stopped at two!!

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

What is the difference in their doctrine?

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

I think in one of the first documentaries they mentioned being fundamental baptists in belief. Not exactly sure what that is. I do know in the area I grew up there was an extremely large baptist church (20,000 members) that had a similar holiness standard. They wore skirts, but could wear moderate makeup, trim their hair, and wear minimal jewelry. The men had extremely short hair, no facial hair, and no shorts.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Well you guys know there are Apostolics who house church don't you ?
http://apostolicsathome.com

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

House church? Sounds like home missions to me! Been there done that.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

I don't know these folks but I believe they are a house church.
http://www.lostsheepministry.com/osh...usechurch.html

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

We have "Bible Baptists" in this area and they are extremely strict - moreso than a lot of Pentecostal churches. They also are VERY evangelistic, even to the point of knocking doors and trying to tell you that you're not saved if you don't hold to Eternal Security. They also put their little kids in the parking lots of stores to hand out tracts.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

In a CBS article I read, they said they were very conservative baptists.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

As I have said before, there is something about this family that creeps me out. Something that is just not "right".
I almost feel like Mrs Duggers "mask" will fall off one of these episodes revealing her robotic underside and it will be up to Col Steve Austin to battle her on the desert hillside.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

I wonder how much the family gets paid to do the tv show. I think that many children is ridiculous.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Anybody see "Jesus Camp"? SOunds like that.

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What I think is wied is when asked about more children the Dad always says he leaves it up to his wife. So, apparently it's not a belief??

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Sooner or later, they're gonna hafta reuse a "J" name. There are only so many, ya know?

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Maybe they will resort to jingle or jedidiah or jesus. :)

I knew a family who had 10 kids. Shortly after their last one was born, the Dad had a stroke and almost died. He didn't but couldn't do anything. The family had to take care of him. It is a great family, great kids. Very tragic.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Yeah, see? They already have a Jedidiah!

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

LOL! Do you have all the names momorized?

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Frankly it seems to me that it is no one else's business HOW MANY children
the Duggers have, as long as you are not being asked to pay for their children.
Looks like a pretty good model family as far as taking responsibility for their own
bills, their own kids and a lot of other things.

Children are the heritage of the Lord, or at least that's what the Bible says.
And blessed is the man who has his quiver full.

If everyone did as some (and no offense to anyone who through no fault of their
own cannot have children), but not only don't want any, but make sure they don't
have any, this world would become an empty place. Some would rather have dogs
and cats, etc. than children. And that's their business to do so!

A lady physican in our city told me with tears in her eyes (she was our daughters
physican) that if good people refuse to have children, it leaves it up to others. And
they will have them.

In the Bible or at least the OT, it was considered a curse NOT to have children.
My, how things have changed! Now to hear some talk, it would sound as if it were a
curse to have children, or very many! But then a lot of things have changed and I
am not so sure it is for good!

If you don't want children or more children, that's your business, but me-
thinks people need to get out of the Duggers bedroom. That's their business!!:nod

No offense intended!

Blessings,

Falla39

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

I worked with a young lady once that had four kids. When I would see her around town I always told her she didn't have enough kids. She and her husband would just laugh and say, not everyone wants to keep up with you.:toofunny

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

In one episode they asked one of the girls why they all had long hair, and she answered "My Dad just likes long hair on girls".

I liked that, that she didn't try to spiritualize it.

My Mom and I watch the show together all the time.

We keep wondering which of the kids are going to rebel. I mean the more you have, the better the chance, ya know?

My vote is on John-David, simply because he is almost never shown on the show, probably because he is out dating, and listen to Contemporary Christian music, or some other craziness :heeheehee

Seriously though, I get the same feeling watching that show as I do reading Anne of Green Gables, or watching Little House on the Prairie, where I think "Awww....isn't that sweet...wouldn't it be great to live like that....."

And then I remember my ipod, and the internet, and the microwave and I think, Nahhhh...I am content where I am. In the case of the Duggars, I simply remember that I am childless feminist, lol.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Ha, no, but that one stuck in my mind. (Looked it up, just to be sure, though!)

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

I have a sister like this - Baptist. Not the handing out tracts thing, but the "more strict" than we are. She used to criticize me and my beliefs years ago. Now she is more strict with her kids and the way they live than I have ever been.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

I agree Sis. Falla,

I find it disturbing how judgmental people can be about people and large families. I am not sure why people are like that.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

But, what do the girls like? Is it all about what Dad likes?

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

You got a problem with that?

:toofunny

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Ahhh...but where do you draw the line?

I don't have kids, and it is most likely not a decision I will ever have to make.

I mean, when I was growing up my Dad liked me to be home at a certain time, to not use cuss words, and to not watch R-rated movies when they weren't home.

I, of course, didn't want to do any of those things..... ;)

Like I said, not having kids, and not having to be responsible for their upbringing, I honestly don't really know at which point drawing the line becomes overkill. (Of course, you know where I stand on the whole hair thing anyway)

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Kids who respect and admire their parents have this weird desire to please them.

It really isn't any more complicated than that.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Ahhhh...well that explains a whole lot about my childhood, especially my teenage years!

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I am a blessed man.

I am by no means a heavy-handed, authoritarian type parent. I almost never even raise my voice to my sons.

And either one of them would jump off a roof if they thought it would please me.

I don't deserve the kind of kids I have.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

I think there is some merit to allowing some of the house rules to be according to the parents' preference. Our girls, for instance, are not allowed to wear gauchos to town (e.g., for any occasion other than playing outside), not because we think they're necessarily bad, but because their Daddy thinks they don't look feminine or flattering--he just doesn't like them. Good enough reason for me. :coffee2

Jeff told me when we were dating that he didn't ever want me to wear lipstick--he hates the stuff. His mother and sisters cake it on, and it's a big turn off for him. So it's just lip gloss for me. I don't like it either, so it works out well. :D He doesn't have a conviction against women wearing lipstick. He doesn't think a woman will go to hell just for wearing lipstick. He just doesn't like it--so I don't wear it.

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As long as the children are happy, healthy and well-provided for, I see no problem with it at all.

I don't know how they do it, though. (Financially speaking)

Jeff is having the big V next year to make sure we don't have anymore. I'm not sure how I feel about that. :( I don't necessarily want to pursue having more children (we'd have to see a fertility doc about it)--but I don't like having the option completely taken away either. To be fair, when we discussed it a couple of years ago, I told him I was okay with it. LOL!!! But I would also be okay with one more....

:D

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

Uh, yeah. :)

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I asked my husband to put it in God's hands briefly before the big V. He did and it didn't happen and I have been able to let it go because of it.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

My husband wants my hair trimmed to my mid-back. I am working on it, but not there quite yet. If he forced me before I was ready, I would not be impressed.

My sister had a fiance who wanted her to shave her head. It was wierd, but hey, it was what the man wanted!!

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

P.S. She didn't do it. She's a feminist with her own mind!! LOL!

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Whew!!! I was gonna ask.

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I think it's ridiculous if they couldn't care for them, but hey, if someone wants that many kids or more and they can afford it, more power to them! From what I've seen on their shows, they are doing an awesome job.

Re: 17 Kids and Counting
 

I agree with your earlier statement....
Randy! Way funny...:santathumb