12/09/10 WEDNESDAY SERVICE... CHILDREN IN CHURCH
I teach and preach a lot; I also give ops to people to ask questions and share insights. Tonight Daniel mentioned the Islamic hope in the 12th Imam and the possible connection to the Tribulation. We also mentioned the Nashville billboards about Christ's return.
Then the children (ages 3-7) took over. They asked awesome questions and made incredible comments, actually conversed insight-fully.
CHILDREN IN CHURCH...
I cannot imagine separating the children from the adults during church or Bible study. Yes, I believe each age and social group needs to have time for themselves, to share, learn and focus on their own particular needs, but Body Life is Whole Body Life, not segmented (fragmented) body life.
I also understand that some provision should be made for children who have not been taught how to behave in a public worship or study situation. But again, this is the exception, rather than the rule. It is a remedial act rather than a normal behavior.
I also understand that preachers do not get what Jesus said about letting the children come into the public assembly. Most preachers don't even make the gospel understandable to academically degreed adults; so they certainly cannot explain it to a 3 year old child.
If we wait to teach them and reach them when they are 10 years old, we might as well kiss many of them good-bye and forget about ever winning them to Jesus.
God wants to save children when they are young, so that He can keep them out of the clutches of Satan. The problem is not that God won't save children or that children will not be saved, the problem is that sophisticated adults think a person must be grown up or at least a mature young person in order to get saved. WELLLLLLL, they don't have to be older to sin and God does not want them to sin. As Paul said, when he found out that some folks were still in sin, I SPEAK THIS TO YOUR SHAME.
God help us to reach and teach our children.
CHILDREN IN CHURCH...
I cannot imagine separating the children from the adults during church or Bible study. Yes, I believe each age and social group needs to have time for themselves, to share, learn and focus on their own particular needs, but Body Life is Whole Body Life, not segmented (fragmented) body life.
I also understand that some provision should be made for children who have not been taught how to behave in a public worship or study situation. But again, this is the exception, rather than the rule. It is a remedial act rather than a normal behavior.
I also understand that preachers do not get what Jesus said about letting the children come into the public assembly. Most preachers don't even make the gospel understandable to academically degreed adults; so they certainly cannot explain it to a 3 year old child.
If we wait to teach them and reach them when they are 10 years old, we might as well kiss many of them good-bye and forget about ever winning them to Jesus.
God wants to save children when they are young, so that He can keep them out of the clutches of Satan. The problem is not that God won't save children or that children will not be saved, the problem is that sophisticated adults think a person must be grown up or at least a mature young person in order to get saved. WELLLLLLL, they don't have to be older to sin and God does not want them to sin. As Paul said, when he found out that some folks were still in sin, I SPEAK THIS TO YOUR SHAME.
God help us to reach and teach our children.
