These reasons vary from, "there being nothing in church for the kids", to, "they are too noisy and distract the rest of the congregation", to, "they haven't got a long enough concentration span to get anything out of the service", just to name a few.
This is a dangerous practice on so many diffent levels!
1) In focusing on children as being the future of our church, congregations inadvertantly disenfranchise many other congregation members across the age spectrum.
2) Pardon me for pointing out the obvious, but isn't the future of our church the Holy Spirit gathering and calling a congregation of young to old together around Jesus Christ, who stands at the centre of God pleasing divine service and worship?
3) What are we telling the children about church by removing them from the worshipping community?
4) What are we saying to the children, about their place in the worshipping community of God?
5) What are we teaching our kids about being still and knowing that Jesus Christ is Lord?
6) Are we not further fracturing the family unit and in some cases usurping parental authority by willing children to leave the service?
Then there is the issue of the subject matter taught. This can vary greatly. However, entertainment seems to be the central tenent with a myriad of secondary matter being presented in preference to having the children hear the Word of God read and taught from the Bible. After all the Holy Spirit works Christ centred faith when one hears the word of God (Rom 10:17), not words about the word of God.
And by chucking our children out of the service, how can parents then be exemlaries of faith practices? How do children lean about the beauty and magisty of the means which God has give to us so we can recieve his forgiveness and love?
But furthermore, Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14 (ESV)
Why are we continuing to send our children out of church and then wondering why they don't come back when we've taught them to leave in the first place.
Perhaps we put them out of church because of our own unbelief in Christ's promise to work through his Word by the power of the Holy Spirit?
Grace, Mercy, & Peace
Friarpuk
