Jesus Loves The Little Children... And We Should Too

Matthew 19:13–15 (ESV) — 13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Recently, I mentioned that having your children with you in the worship services was important and I read someone's comment on Facebook that said the same thing. Children need to be with us in the sanctuary so they can see what worship looks like and learn how to do the same. When I addressed this in our church service, I looked at both perspectives.

First, the perspective of those who see a family bringing in little children.

• You need to be thankful that they are there with you. How many churches do not have any children in there anymore? You also need to remember how much effort that took when you had small children. Maybe you only have to get yourself ready on Sunday mornings now (which is easy). Sometimes children have last-minute spills or don't get dressed as fast as you wish that they did.

• You need to encourage the families and help them realize how much you appreciate them being there with you.

• And you need to pray for the parents and the little children that they will all be blessed by being there. Pray that they will hear the message. Pray that they will experience God's presence.

Now for those of you who bring your children with you.

• Please, remember that we are glad that you are here with us. This is where you need to be and we are very thankful that you have done whatever it took to get them here.

• Please, do not panic every time your child makes an occasional noise. Little children make noises. In fact, so do some of the adults in here, but that is a different discussion. Some parents are overly sensitive about this and worry that their child may be a distraction because they made an occasional noise.

• Please, remember that your children need to see how important church is to you and they need to see what happens each Sunday morning when you gather with your church family.

• And please, teach your children how to sit quietly in church. The people around you will understand that it takes time and practice so don’t feel pressured. Just do your best at training them to be respectful of others and in doing so, you are also preparing them to hear the Word more effectively. If they are causing a temporary distraction in the service, please take them out of the sanctuary until you can calm them down. Then come back in the sanctuary and participate in the service.

Now I would like to show you what I read yesterday and see what Joseph Spurgeon wrote about this topic.

"I have seen several posts recently in support of what is often called family integrated worship, meaning the whole family gathered together in the Lord’s Day service. This is something I support, enjoy, and want to see practiced. I believe there is good biblical precedent for it, and I believe it is generally a very good thing.

That said, some of the writing in support of it has gone a bit too far. I understand the impulse. Many are trying to show mercy to young parents and to make clear that children are welcome in the worship of God. That is right and good. We should be hospitable. We should not treat children as intrusions. The covenant community includes them.

At the same time, some of the rhetoric seems to deny that parents have a real duty to train their children for worship. Yes, children will make noise from time to time. Babies cry. Toddlers squirm. That is part of life in a living church. But parents are not the only consideration in the gathered assembly. Loud and ongoing disruption can distract others from hearing the preaching of the Word and from focusing on prayer and praise.

If we reduce the conversation to slogans such as “we love the sound of children” or “if you are distracted, that is your problem,” we are not helping anyone. Mere platitudes is not helpful.

Family integrated worship requires effort from everyone. Those who are easily distracted must discipline their own hearts and minds. Parents must also take seriously their responsibility to prepare their children for worship. That preparation happens throughout the week. It involves teaching obedience, practicing sitting and listening, correcting defiance, and being willing to step out of the service when necessary.

As a congregation grows and more children are present, the opportunity for distraction increases. It is not wise to pretend this is not a real issue. Order and reverence still matter. The household of God should be warm and welcoming, but it should also reflect self control and honor for the Lord we are worshiping.

Churches can provide practical helps for families who are just getting started. A nursery can serve as a tool to assist parents in the early stages of training. Older saints can show patience. Pastors can set a tone that encourages children to be present and encourages parents to be diligent. We need both.

Children should be welcomed into the worship of God. Parents should be encouraged. And at the same time, children should be trained, and disorder should not be excused. Family integrated worship is a beautiful thing when it is carried out with patience, discipline, and a shared commitment to honor the Lord together. But it takes work, not just wishful thinking."