tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353391130557632723.post2571916955792972761..comments2024-03-25T21:10:45.516-06:00Comments on hikerrev: Children in Worship, Againhikerrevhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13386543205127710143noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353391130557632723.post-16243184030052851232013-06-05T22:46:03.616-06:002013-06-05T22:46:03.616-06:00I think, if we don't welcome them, if we don&#...I think, if we don't welcome them, if we don't find a way to reframe the conversation, then forget the 20 and 30 something's coming back to church. When we talk about bringing them back, this is critical. A problem I see is that people want children raised the same way they raised their children in church. But that won't work. From other people I know, it seems many congregations are struggling with the same type of thing... True of many churches.ms'er faithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14750127973286035852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353391130557632723.post-29747967261056300162013-06-05T12:26:26.788-06:002013-06-05T12:26:26.788-06:00I have become convinced that one of the most radic...I have become convinced that one of the most radical, revolutionary things a church can do is to welcome children fully into its life together - especially worship - without any pre-conditions or reservations. A while back there was a viral blog post on fb about kids leaving the faith (or something like that), and one of the key insights that resonated with me was, "They've never actually been in worship anyway." I.e., we silo them into SS or youth group or confirmation and discourage them from actually being a part of the worshiping body... and then wonder why we don't see them after confirmation and/or graduation.<br /><br />As a preacher, I am 150% more distracted when I see older folks sleeping or whispering among themselves or flipping through the announcements than I am when kids stand up in the pews or whisper (just loudly enough for everyone to hear) to their parents about something they see or hear that is interesting or confusing. They may be noisy, but I find they are soaking things up like sponges while many of the folks who are exhibiting a more traditional "decorum" are barely paying attention.<br /><br />I also wonder why Paul never addressed this issue... after all, between circumcision and eating meat sacrificed to idols, you think he would have found time to comment on the presence of children in worship. Or, maybe, the dirt-floor house-church full of smelly peasants and a goat or two was a bit more understanding of the occasional outburst of human life and wonder than our well-managed red-carpeted pew-filled sanctuaries are used to.<br /><br />I'll only give this one $0.01.pr jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01539291343577512975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353391130557632723.post-74872149424561977012013-06-05T10:41:49.063-06:002013-06-05T10:41:49.063-06:00A very good way to reframe the conversation. We...A very good way to reframe the conversation. We've been working on that same notion in our congregation here in Utah. Thanks for the boost and for the additional insights. I don't comment often (not much at all) but I do keep up with your posts here. So, thanks for that as well.PJ+https://www.blogger.com/profile/01571512262385232176noreply@blogger.com