Sep
18
2013
Children Should Be Seen And Heard
Posted in Worship 6 Comments
There we were coming into church, all those years ago, with five little children.
My oldest and youngest were twelve years apart, with everyone else in between.
I usually held the baby who was sleeping in my arms.
I brought small books for the younger ones to look at and expected the older ones to listen.
Every little sound, every little whimper is magnified in church.
It is as if there are heavenly acoustics that make sure every sound is heard.
It is music to God’s ears.
It is stressful for young parents.
I went to church every week my whole life.
It was always religion not relationship.
I knew all the prayers in my head, but not in my heart.
The Holy Spirit opened the door of my heart and the floodgates opened.
My eyes, ears, mind, and heart were opened to hear and understand the Gospel.
I stayed in the church I grew up in, but not for long.
I couldn’t stay!
I needed to be under the solid teaching of God’s Word.
There were many young families in the church at that time.
One particular Sunday was extremely noisy.
The person in front, who was about to read from a missal, not the Bible, began to speak.
I have never forgotten what he said.
How I wish I was in a Plexiglas box right now, so I wouldn’t have to listen to all of this!
Young parents were embarrassed.
Even if their children were not the culprits, it was guilt by association.
We had all been there at one time or another.
We empathized with each other.
How very wrong he was!
He stood up there in his vestments.
He wanted to separate himself from those he was supposed to be shepherding.
How very sad God must have been that day.
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth! You have set Your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise… (Psalm 8:1,2)
It has always been that way.
The church elite, those who were supposed to be shepherds, felt they knew best.
They wanted the people and the worship to be contained, neat, and orderly.
Contained, neat, and orderly according to them!
There was no room for the unruly child.
When He came to the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles the had seen: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!” “I tell you,” He replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out!”
(Luke 19:39,40)
God’s Word says the WHOLE crowd, which means men, women, and children.
Quiet the children and the rocks will continue the worship!
The Plexiglas box comment would have angered Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t want children kept away; Jesus wants children brought near!
To young parents, every sound seems like it is coming through a bullhorn.
To young parents, every movement sounds like clogging on a hardwood floor.
Young parents, you are in good company!
You are part of a church family.
You are vital to the well being of the entire Body.
You are a testimony to the expanse of the Gospel.
I will utter hidden things, things from of old, what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from the children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done. (Psalm 78:2-4)
What can children possibly get out of being in church?
Children glean much from being in church and being part of the family of God.
They watch their parents and other adults worship the Lord.
They hear the Word of God faithfully preached each week, and read at home as well.
They can worship the Lord in song as they lift their voices to Him.
Children don’t miss anything.
I was listening to a teaching CD and heard the speaker talk about the importance of children being part of worship. The speaker talked about how his own wife would help a young mother who had her hands filled with children of all ages. His wife would hold one of the toddlers if an extra pair of hands were needed.
The little girl she held, now almost a teenager, remembered that woman fondly.
She remembered that every time the preacher said something important, the woman would say, “Hmmm…Amen!”
The woman didn’t even know she was doing it, but to the little girl, the woman’s sounds of agreement told her that what the preacher said was very important!
We, the family of God can be part of the worship memories of a young child.
They can see our love of the Lord and the joy we have in our heart.
They can see how much we love HIM by how much we love them!
They need to see!
Jesus says so; He wants the little children to come to Him.
No Plexiglas boxes allowed!
Joyful paper rumpling, happy whispers, jubilant hugs, off-key singing.
Jesus wants it all!
It is music to His ears!
How can it not be music to our ears?
Good post. We are a family of God that is multi-generational. By the way he was probably reading from a ‘missal’.
Al,
Thank you for catching my misspelled word.
Yes…missal…not missile.
Though what was “projected” that day must have felt like a “missile” to the young parents.
Thank you for keeping me on my toes!
Gina
Thsnk you so much for the sweet reminder that we young parents need to remember. How nice to be surrounded by people like you!
Laura,
How blessed we are to sit in front of your family each Sunday!
It is so lovely to see ALL of you there each week!
Gina
I couldn’t agree more! This brought to mind a funny moment I thought worth sharing – I will never forget the day my 4 were all so little and my younger daughter, when hearing the bells, loudly exclaimed “I hear the ice cream truck!” This resulted in several stifled giggles and my shrinking down in the pew. Now it is a heartwarming remembrance. Thanks for triggering a quick trip down memory lane.
Karen,
How precious! How innocent!
No wonder Jesus says we have to be like little children!
I love the way they see the world!
Gina