Two Kid Schoolhouse

• Jan. 24, 2008 - Hate to diss someone's church, but...

Posted in Family and Church

this article about a new mega-church in the Atlanta area had some disheartening things to say about the state of Christianity in the US. (Kerri, I'm expecting to hear from you on this one...)

The new church includes "facilities for children, from birth through college..." What is wrong with that sentence?

Of course, most churches anymore have "children's church" or Sunday School during the church service because kids aren't expected to be able to sit through a church service. Though our church doesn't separate kids, I remember a few occasions when they were younger that the sermon content was something I'd rather they weren't exposed to just then. Still, it bothers me that "...congregants are encouraged not to bring children into the worship experience center..." because "We don't want a 2-year-old to disrupt anyone's experience." I don't know if kids are allowed in the cafe, either.

The facility cost $30 million. Movie-making equipment and staff are probably pretty expensive! I guess that's money well-spent if it really gets people in the doors, hearing the Gospel so they can truly become part of the body of Christ, ready to go out and minister to others. My brief experience with an almost-mega-church makes me a little cynical, though. My guess is people will hear "nice words spoken" (not a quote from the article but something a nonbeliever who attended a Christian church once said to me; she also complained about the icky focus on the Crucifixion on the Sunday before Easter) and go on with their lives. I hope I am wrong about that.

• Jan. 24, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by charles0322

My heart always goes out to the Pastors of these Mega-churches. It is usually a full time job trying to keep the members focused on Christ. Many times the bigger churches (and I have seen smaller ones with this same problem) get so concerned with "programs" that it becomes more of a social club than a church.

My hubby and I actually run the JR church program at our church. This is for the 2-sometimes 6th grade. Our goal is to teach them and get them ready for the big service. How? We teach them how to take notes, how to listen, vocabulary (like thee, thou, salvation, etc,) find verses in the Bible (so they aren't so busy flippen throught their Bibles they miss what the preacher is saying) how to read the hymn books (how to hold the hymn books). We tell them our job is to get them ready for the big church.

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• Jan. 26, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by norwezter

***The new church includes "facilities for children, from birth through college..." What is wrong with that sentence? ***!!!!!!!!!!!!

*gag*

That's an entire post right there, isn't it?

Our church has a nursery but hardly anyone uses it. It's kind of for really bad days, not for a week to week experience. Our children sit with us from birth up. They bow their heads during prayer, sing what songs they are able, recite the Lord's prayer and take communion. Sometimes, yes, there is crying heard. It's a good thing our pastor doesn't aspire for a radio ministry, because the tape would definitely get messed up.

We expect so little of our children. We don't see them as fellow members of the body of Christ, that need to worship with all kinds of people, not always be regulated to their own age group.

You could go in a dozen directions.

The words Worship Center makes me nuts. I go to church.

When does a church becaome so large it really isn't a church anymore? I mean, if you can come and go every week and not even see the same people twice, where is the community, the accountability, the real involvement in each other's lives?

Why do the Jews Bar Mitzvah their kids at 13? Was there a time when a 13 year old was expected to be able to have at least a good portion of the attributes of an ADULT? Rather than being kept in this constant state of INFANCY? (College children indeed.)

Should Starbucks be profitting on church grounds? Are they open on Sunday? (Now I'm getting controversial. We keep Sunday sabbath)

"We don't want a 2-year-old to disrupt anyone's experience."

How self centered is that? Am I there to have an "experience" Is worship about ME? Or is the LORD offended by the an interupption from a baby? I mean, if he's really going all out, we take the baby out, but good grief. Is my relationship so fragile that a momentary interruption is going to mess me all up?

Hehheh.. I could really go off into controversy and discuss why this may be an argument for paedobaptism, and even for us, paedocommunion...

Maybe I shouldn't do that to you, though... :)

Well, I guess you heard from me! :)

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