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Children In Community
By daniel | July 14, 2005
Our community within our local body has changed in the past few years from almost exclusively single, college-age folk, to a wide diversity of marital and parental statuses. We have new parents, newlyweds, singles, divorcees, fiances, and college students, to name a few. With this change, we've seen the issue of children in the meetings needing to be addressed, to whatever shall our posture be, concerning them?
I love my daughter fiercely. I don't want her to feel shunted by the adults who want to “discuss God.” I also would like for my wife and myself to be able to concentrate during discussions and teaching without having to take our sleepy and/or hungry child out of the room constantly. This poses a dilemma of sorts. It seems to me it's not so much a question of whether or how often we will ban children from the grown-up meetings, but rather a question of how hard will we work to raise our children well? How hard will I work to raise my brother's children well, and how hard will, say, a college student in our group, work to raise my child well? The issues we are discussing at every certain weekly gathering (be it Sun, Mon, Tues, etc) are certainly important, but will we do the work required to make our children and integral part of the worshipping community - that is the question.
On a lighter note, we've seen much value — and I'm quoting a brother here — in having younger children in our gatherings, especially as the topics are turning to the war afoot and the enemy who seeks the destruction of the Lord's work and His people. The children present give us a glimpse of the future God has provided and that all is not darkness. Also, in viewing our own part in God's larger plan, learning to give the extra effort to train the children while growing ourselves will be much gain for all.
Finally, let me leave with you a story given by our master:
15And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.
16But Jesus called for them, saying, Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
17Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.
Topics: Church Life |
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