Adapted from Pastor Brian Phillips’s book Sunday Mornings.
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.’”
- Matthew 18:1-7
When evangelism is the primary goal of worship, children are taken out of worship to avoid distractions. When the purpose of worship is the education of Christians, children are taken out to be taught “at their level” and so parents won’t be kept from taking notes. When the purpose of worship is a spiritual experience or particular emotion, children must be removed because they may prevent you from reaching that experience (crying infants and squirming toddlers can do that). And, when the purpose of worship is praise, children are taken out for a couple of reasons – in Charismatic churches, they may get knocked down; in more reserved circles, they need to be taught songs and Bible stories on their “own level” so they can praise like children. The end result of these approaches is that the children are taken out of worship.
The practice of taking children out of corporate worship, away from their parents, has actually created the mess of the contemporary church. From their earliest days, children are shuffled off to “Children’s Church” where they are taught cute ditty songs, adapted Bible stories, and Bible games that are all geared to their age and often watered-down (for more info, see any episode of “Veggie Tales”). Then, when they get to about age 10 or 12, they may be allowed to come into “big church,” where they are bored stiff because they have never been taught to do this.
For some reason, church isn’t catered to them anymore. So, in order to solve this “problem”, churches adopt “Youth Church” where they learn choruses with guitars (in my experience, 3 chords at a time), hear lessons about dating, go to lock-ins, and have an excuse to sit with that cute girl or guy. So, now, until at least age 18, church is catered to them.
Well, what happens to little Johnny when he becomes grown-up Johnny and doesn’t have a church that’s catered to him anymore? “I’m used to music that I like and sermons that are ‘relevant’ (because after all, the Bible’s not relevant unless it directly and clearly involves me). Why are they reading creeds?” The result should be clear. When a generation of “Johnnys” grows up with no connection to the actual worship of the church; when they grow up with a church tailor-made to suit their desires, they will simply leave and start one that is. Johnny has been taught to love drums and strobe lights, not Psalms. The elders of Johnny’s home church still can’t figure out why he’s moved to the edges of the reservation, never realizing that they sent him there.
Of course, that’s not to mention the kids who, after years of being “kept out of the way,” conclude that Christianity itself has no use for them. So, they stay out of the way, permanently. The elders are confused again. Why have these children left the reservation entirely? The church pushed them out and the children got the hint.
To be continued…