HOW TO MAKE YOUR CHURCH CHILD PROOF
Don Hawley
Little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matt. 19:13, 14.
Clearly the disciples considered church to be a serious adult affair; children would simply be a distraction from what was truly important. Jesus didn't see it that way.
As many parents of young children could testify, things haven't changed much in our own day. Some church leaders consider children to be a liability once they escape the Sunday School classrooms. Jesus still wouldn't go along.
And neither do three pastors who have brought their congregations together for worship in the Seattle Revival Center in Newcastle, Washington. Having spent several days at the world renewal center in Toronto, Canada, they see worship in a new light. Whole families are caught up in a celebratory worship format that is exuberant and full of joy.
Recently I participated in a week-long worship conference at the Seattle Revival Center, and it was a wonderful experience. Anyone addicted to worshipping inside a glacier outfitted with pews would probably be aghast at what I enjoyed, but it was very much in the spirit of Psalm 150:
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power.
Praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Praise him with "dancing?" That's what it says. In Seattle, several women moved to back of the room where they gracefully danced before the Lord. A few men were also involved, but I didn't think they were quite as graceful. No matter. It was worship, not exhibitionism. I took special note of a little nine-year-old girl dancing as beautifully as her older sisters in Christ. It was easy to see she was happy to be in the House of the Lord.
What happened next would send some traditionalists running for the exit. Several communicants began running joyfully in a line around the circumference of the room. And the column was led by a banner waving pastor! The happiest of the lot was a little thee-year-old blond boy wearing a bight red jumper. He was hanging right in there, little legs pumping at top speed. His eyes were sparkling with excitement, and I could almost read his mind. "This is church? Wow!"
The praise portion of worship lasts about an hour, and by the time it is over the kids are no problem during the sermon. Their little tongues are hanging out. After doing about 25 laps, "red jumper" was out cold.
Following the service I visited with a family who had young children. They testified that worship is the favorite activity for the entire family; the kids are always begging, "Let's go to church!" Instead of getting high on drugs, the teenagers are high on Jesus. The devil has a rough challenge at the Seattle Revival Center. When young people are considered a vital part of the church family instead of a liability, they're not apt to drift away from the Lord.
Pastors; want to solve your "youth problem" and your "church attendance problem?" Try replacing the traditional mode of worship with the biblical model.