CHILDREN ARE NOT SECOND-CLASS CHRISTIANS

In one of our decision-making meetings in the church council, we made a policy that our Children’s Church would not use things that the adult church is replacing. For instance, we would not pass on old drums; we will buy them new ones- that what exactly what we did.

It is so easy to abandon children. In a lot of churches, the main church is roomy and spacious but children are packed into one small space. Some churches build without a plan for children’s church. They just are not thinking about them. Oftentimes, they are like after-thoughts.

If we keep giving children second class treatment in church, how on earth do we expect them to be first-class Christians.

Interestingly, this is not new. In the days of Jesus on earth, the disciples thought that children coming to Jesus were a disturbance of the ministry. Jesus would not take that from them.

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone, who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Luke 18:15‭-‬17 NIV

Did you see the reaction of the disciples when children were brought to Jesus? They rebuked them. Do you know what it means to rebuke? It is an expression of sharp disapproval of an action.

Does that not sound like the way we behave today? We want to keep children away somewhere occupied with things that do not count.

There are times that those sent to minister to children are those who cannot even minister to adults. We believe children just need someone to keep them calm and occupied. We must rethink this.

Children are the extensions to our future. They are the reinforcement battalion of the Kingdom Army. We must never joke with them in any way. We must invest in them. They deserve the very best. As Jesus did, we can pause all we do, to focus on a generation that will carry on the work.