The Separation of Church and Children
What’s your take? Is it scriptural for children to be separated from the adult congregation?
How would you consider your answer in light of these scriptures?
- Matthew 18:1-6
“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus , saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me”.
- 2 Samuel 12:19-23 about the incident when David’s first born from Bathsheba died, to which David responded by saying, “I shall go to him”. Children before the age of reason are considered worthy of heaven.
- Or even Luke 18:15
“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
In most congregations, children are separated from the ‘adult’ congregation into age denominated ‘children’s church’, ‘Sunday School’ or some other ‘exciting’ term to denote a less important sphere of service to the Lord. (If you baulk at the “less important” statement, analyse this: where does the most energy, attention, finances and good looks, church-treasures, so to say, get spent during the typical Sunday church service? If you are an exception to the norm write to me, I’d like to learn from you.)
Is it possible for a Sunday service to include every member of the family at the same time? What is the rational of breaking the family unit to worship the Lord of the family? Who has greater power, Mr. Pulpit preaching to a 10,000 ‘adult’ congregation or a 6 month old who can send that whole apparatus into a more memorable distraction? To protect the pin-drop-silence, is it okay to pack off the ‘bored-5 year-old’, ’short-attention-span 2 year-old’ or ‘I-don’t care-teenager’ to same-age classes which are proven to be ‘not-a-great-way-to-learn’ centres? Did Jesus do that?
If not, is there a better way? There better be one, since statistically, many ‘church kids’ stay away from church when adult.
Comments in a Biblical and Spirit led basis welcome.