I completely agree with everything you said!!! Many, many parents have traded teaching and training for appeasing and entertaining while worshipping God. It is detrimental for the children, and I believe, it’s one of the reasons we are losing a lot of them when they reach adulthood. Unfortunately, our congregation has “children’s church “ and it takes not only a majority of the children out, but a lot of adults and teenagers too.
We raised 3 children and had family devotionals at home where they learned about how to be respectful and participate in worship, talked each time we were heading to the church building that we were going to worship God, and all they took inside were their own Bibles. No toys, no snacks. Expectations have changed dramatically! Even the families that don’t participate in “children’s church “ bring backpacks full of activities to keep the children occupied. It grieves me because all they are learning when they go to worship, is it’s another place to play (just “quietly “).
This is all about discipline and instruction. If children are given those two things in conjunction with sitting in a pew then all the better. Most of the time, what I see is, the coloring books, the snacks, etc. broken out to manage the situation. I'm not familiar with children's church. It would be interesting if there was an option for room with a window into the auditorium for children to observe and be taught about worship. Parents should have the option to use these to help.if needed. All children are not created with the same temperament. I feel for a family with three small children where I recently attended. The wife spent many trips up and down the isle with them. But they can also provide some humor at times. One child at a congregation that I used to attend was on his 2nd trip down the isle for some behavioral correction. Not going willingly and knowing what to expect outside, he desperately called out in a loud voice " Help me...Church" Still cracks me up to this day.
Interesting thought. I am in a grandmother role and 2 of my grandchildren live with me- their mom also lives with us but she often works on Sundays. Our very small church has been offering Children’s church only during the sermon- kids are with families the rest of the time. We have a difficult time finding people to do it but I wonder if we are missing something.
Excellent article. I always think about one of my dad's arguments against "children's church." "Should we appoint children's elders?" I can't tell you how many times I've observed little boys standing on the pew, mimicking the motions of the song leader they watched during worship. They can only say a few words, but learn in a lot of ways that people seem to ignore.
#4 is the tipping point. I went to a church where kids stayed in the service, the pastor stated from the pulpit they do this intentionally for the reasons you map out here, then proceeded to tell parents to train their children to be still and quiet. He even pointed out the doors where they can slip out to an adjacent hallway if needed. Then during the sermon, kids were literally running laps up and down the back pathway in the sanctuary and not a parent lifted a finger. It was beyond frustrating. If the Church goes this route, actively shepherd parents to shepherd their kids in this
I completely agree with everything you said!!! Many, many parents have traded teaching and training for appeasing and entertaining while worshipping God. It is detrimental for the children, and I believe, it’s one of the reasons we are losing a lot of them when they reach adulthood. Unfortunately, our congregation has “children’s church “ and it takes not only a majority of the children out, but a lot of adults and teenagers too.
We raised 3 children and had family devotionals at home where they learned about how to be respectful and participate in worship, talked each time we were heading to the church building that we were going to worship God, and all they took inside were their own Bibles. No toys, no snacks. Expectations have changed dramatically! Even the families that don’t participate in “children’s church “ bring backpacks full of activities to keep the children occupied. It grieves me because all they are learning when they go to worship, is it’s another place to play (just “quietly “).
This is all about discipline and instruction. If children are given those two things in conjunction with sitting in a pew then all the better. Most of the time, what I see is, the coloring books, the snacks, etc. broken out to manage the situation. I'm not familiar with children's church. It would be interesting if there was an option for room with a window into the auditorium for children to observe and be taught about worship. Parents should have the option to use these to help.if needed. All children are not created with the same temperament. I feel for a family with three small children where I recently attended. The wife spent many trips up and down the isle with them. But they can also provide some humor at times. One child at a congregation that I used to attend was on his 2nd trip down the isle for some behavioral correction. Not going willingly and knowing what to expect outside, he desperately called out in a loud voice " Help me...Church" Still cracks me up to this day.
Interesting thought. I am in a grandmother role and 2 of my grandchildren live with me- their mom also lives with us but she often works on Sundays. Our very small church has been offering Children’s church only during the sermon- kids are with families the rest of the time. We have a difficult time finding people to do it but I wonder if we are missing something.
Excellent article. I always think about one of my dad's arguments against "children's church." "Should we appoint children's elders?" I can't tell you how many times I've observed little boys standing on the pew, mimicking the motions of the song leader they watched during worship. They can only say a few words, but learn in a lot of ways that people seem to ignore.
#4 is the tipping point. I went to a church where kids stayed in the service, the pastor stated from the pulpit they do this intentionally for the reasons you map out here, then proceeded to tell parents to train their children to be still and quiet. He even pointed out the doors where they can slip out to an adjacent hallway if needed. Then during the sermon, kids were literally running laps up and down the back pathway in the sanctuary and not a parent lifted a finger. It was beyond frustrating. If the Church goes this route, actively shepherd parents to shepherd their kids in this