Jan. 5, 2009 - Children in Church
We are in an interesting situation at our current church. We are now fellowshipping in a church that does not welcome children to remain in the service with their parents. It is truly something that is hard for us to grasp.
This past Sunday we were asked by a heartbroken woman why we don't send our babies to the nursery. Why don't we? Why do we choose to keep them with us? Because that's what the Bible tells us to do.
I was asked what I would do if I worked, and I rather brazenly said that I wouldn't work. Now, should God see fit to take my Tommy Home while we still have little children, I know that I would need to find a source of income. I would definitely seek the Lord and trust that He would provide a means that would also enable me to still parent our children biblically.
We were asked if we take the baby to movies. No, we don't really go to the movies ... and, no the reason is not because it's not age appropriate for the children, it's because very little that is shown would be appropriate to feed to our childrens' minds and hearts. We try not to expose them to anything that we wouldn't want them to aspire for themselves.
This person wrongly assumed that we don't use the nursery because we are nervous. We don't use the nursery because the Bible is very clear that we are responsible for our children. We want to teach our children to worship God. They need to see it in action and never know anything different.
They also said that the baby has no idea where she is and that her place is in the nursery. I cannot even begin to describe how much I disagree with that statement. Luke 1:44 says, "For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." That is Elizabeth speaking of John the Baptist. If John the Baptist was rejoicing in the Lord from his mother's womb wouldn't you suffice it to say that our one year old can learn to worship? The Lord can have the rocks cry out to Him, yet our baby can't?
May I ask if you know when the first nurseries were started? Do you think that there were nurseries in Galilee? Jerusalem? Were there tidy rows of cribs, rocking chairs, toys and a neat place for a snack of fish and bread when Jesus fed the many? Did everyone in the house of Lydia come to the Lord ... except for the children? I can't see any of those situations as being true.
2 Chronicles 20:13 says, "Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children." It says their little ones and children! So, to us that means the place for their babies was with them before the Lord.
Mark 10:13-16 says, "And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them." The Greek word for children here means "nursing babes." They were small enough to be taken into Jesus' arms.
John 17:11 says, "Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." Then Ephesians, "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)
If we are supposed to be one, then why should we separate amongst ourselves and merely entertain the children elsewhere?
2 Timothy 3:15, "and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
Do you think that Timothy became acquainted with the sacred writings from a nursery worker or Sunday School teacher? No. 2 Timothy 1:5 tells us, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well."
I offered Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise) to try and explain why we choose to keep our children with us and she said that God is not the author of confusion. It saddens me to think that one could see the occasional babble or fuss as confusion.
I think our children would be confused if they were first taught that corporate worship is nothing but playing and snack for a few years then all of the sudden they find out that is not at all what corporate worship is. Our aim is to teach our children, not pacify them.
That is why we don't use the nursery.
Comments
Jan. 6, 2009 - Whoa!
Posted by Anonymous
Well said! This is the same struggle we go through in the mainstream church. You shoukd submit this to Above Rubies Magazine.
Blessings.......Lucy
Jan. 8, 2009 - Keep It Up
Posted by Neet
My husband and I take the kids with us to "Big Church" as my three year old calls it. Even when L.J. was younger he would go to church with us for praise and worship and then go to his class. He started sitting through the entire service at the age of two.
We currently attend a larger church that requires that the children be checked in by a certain time. Since this would not allow Coleman to attend praise and worship and then go to class he stays with the family. He will be one next month and is doing well in church.
Jan. 17, 2009 - Well Said
Posted by hugabunchmom
I love what you have written, and you are quite right. I actually think that part of the problem with the availability of the nursery is that many parents no longer understand biblical parenting. Many of the children do not behave well for their parents and are actually better behaved with other caregivers. And the truth is, many Christian parents have fallen into the earthly trap of wanting a break from their own children and feeling for whatever reason they "deserve" to sit in church and completely focus on teachings without the "distraction" of their children. If we were raising up better parents within the church, we would not have this problem. It could be said that it has become worse because the cycle makes it worse: poor behavior escalates because children are put in so many different situations, poor parenting gets even worse because parents are not full time parents any more. I wholeheartedly agree with you. We are told regularly by others that our children should be attending children's church events so that we can "get a break and have time to ourselves," so sad. God called us to raise these children, it is a life commitment and a job we thoroughly enjoy and appreciate. I am so thankful for these blessings. Great Post!! Hugs!!
