In my last post, I wrote about some church leaders’ misunderstanding of the role of the building in worship. This was in response to a note that I had gotten from a reader. In that note, the writer also said that the pastor of the church he visited made a comment about not allowing children to eat candy in the “sanctuary.”
In some (many?) of the evangelical churches I have visited or attended over the years, I have seen a funky, weird attitude toward children. Some adults act as if God will send lightning down to strike any child that begins to have fun in the church. Following this thinking, one must not allow his 5 year old to run in church or play tag in the lobby.
When we act this way, we teach children that God is like a grumpy grandfather that has a headache and Johnny must not disturb him. This is the opposite picture that Jesus painted of his father in Luke 15.
I understand that during the worship service, distraction from children should be kept at a minimum. But in one church we attended, ushers would (often not so) politely tell parents that their children are not welcome in the service with the adults. This, in spite of what Jesus said in Mark 10:14, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”
There has to be a proper balance point in between the extremes of letting children run out of control and expecting them to act like adults. Some of us adults struggle to act like adults, why should we expect children to do better?
The point of this rant is to say that we should enjoy the children with which God blesses our congregation. They are not a distraction from the main thing, they are the main thing.
Jesus gave us one mission, that is to make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). What better way to do this than to allow our children to experience church as a place where they can have appropriate fun. I think that God smiles just as hard at a 7 year old playing tag as he does at an adult raising his hands in worship. In both situations, the child and the adult are doing what God created them to do. In a sense, they are both worshiping.
So, the next time that you are annoyed because a baby cries during the sermon or a child asks a question out loud during the service, think of Jesus opening his arms to receive similar children to him. Learn the lesson that Jesus taught the disciples and allow the children to come to Jesus – as children.
kevinjandt says
February 12, 2014 at 11:50 AMMark, great article… I’m so thankful our church went to family-integrated a few years ago, it’s a huge blessing as the children learn to have self control, hear the preaching of the word and are discipled by their parents instead of others.
Mark McIntyre says
February 12, 2014 at 3:49 PMI think that kids absorb more than what we sometimes give them credit for. I think the foundation of my Bible knowledge was laid by all the sermons I heard as a kid.
Mark Luker says
February 12, 2014 at 10:44 AMvery good…..when I was still a Mormon…..one of my favorite meetings each Sunday was the meeting where everyone met…children too – and as you can guess…it was always the loudest meeting of all…..
Mark McIntyre says
February 12, 2014 at 3:48 PMWow! Having lived in Northern Nevada, we knew a few ex Mormons. Not many on the East Coast. I’d love to read your story some time. Have you written and/or published it?
Johnnie Bruce says
February 12, 2014 at 8:57 AMMark, how silly we Mature Christians are when it comes to order and really it is our own petty selves and the forgetting that their was a day ( many) when we were the little children too.
Our Church family is growing in leaps and bounds because we know the importance of the Generation that is growing up in need of God pure Word!
We will not always be here, we will go the way of man kind, and if we refuse the Children what happens to the building ? ( Empty use less lost ) all because we grown ups do not want to be disturbed !
We should be blushing and seeking Gods forgiveness for our petty stupidity.
Mark McIntyre says
February 12, 2014 at 12:39 PMGood thought about the empty buildings. We won’t take the buildings with us to Heaven, but hopefully by God’s grace and our willingness to obey, we will take our children with us.
Tim Inglis says
February 12, 2014 at 6:42 AMWonderful my friend. It’s amazing to me that the word “indignant” is used to describe how Jesus felt. It is closer to how he was when he tipped over the tables in the temple. He wasn’t slightly miffed, he was truly angry. Angry enough to liken causing a little one to stumble with tying a mil-stone around your neck and dropping into the ocean -which played on a deep seated and superstitious fear that your average Jew of the time had about the water.
I actually preached on this a couple of weeks ago at church. If you’re lucky I might even post a link to the video once it’s up on our website. ;-)
Mark McIntyre says
February 12, 2014 at 6:53 AMI’d like to check out the video if you will be so kind as to post a link.
Tim Inglis says
February 12, 2014 at 6:30 PMSure. It may take a couple of weeks for it to be ready though. I’ll let you know once it’s up.
Tim Inglis says
February 17, 2014 at 8:24 AMHi Mark,
I’m having some issues with that video -it’s not opening in my editing suite at present- so it may take some time to get it online. I’ll let you know when it’s up.