On the Flip Side.......
Most people know that I like including the kids as much as possible in "church". However, I have a responsibility to look at both sides.
Some things for everyone to consider:
1. There are people who have already and, more who will, leave our community if we don't "provide classes" for their children. However...
2. If we continue to provide classes, we are reinforcing the idea that "church" happens in a certain room at a certain time with a leader and everyone else listens and follows- as adults we are trying to deprogram ourselves from this type thinking, so maybe we shouldn't program our kids to think that way. However...
3. If people spend most of the service in the lobby what are their kids learning? What are the adults learning about our community and our "kids involved" service? However...
4. If our kids are involved in house churches that don't really value them, and have parents that don't spend time teaching spiritual principles, and we don't spend time or money or energy with them at our weekly Gathering then we are inadvertently teaching them that "church" is only for adults. However...
5. Maybe we should be setting up community blogs or discussion groups or something for parents who just aren't sure how to talk to and teach their children about their faith. We have a lot of great families in our community and we probably all have little rituals and "aha moments" that other parents could benefit from. However....
6. It seems like most of us agree that we could learn about God from our kids and when is it their turn to teach?
And so it goes,,,,, all I know is, I don't know- I don't have the answer.
Most people know that I like including the kids as much as possible in "church". However, I have a responsibility to look at both sides.
Some things for everyone to consider:
1. There are people who have already and, more who will, leave our community if we don't "provide classes" for their children. However...
2. If we continue to provide classes, we are reinforcing the idea that "church" happens in a certain room at a certain time with a leader and everyone else listens and follows- as adults we are trying to deprogram ourselves from this type thinking, so maybe we shouldn't program our kids to think that way. However...
3. If people spend most of the service in the lobby what are their kids learning? What are the adults learning about our community and our "kids involved" service? However...
4. If our kids are involved in house churches that don't really value them, and have parents that don't spend time teaching spiritual principles, and we don't spend time or money or energy with them at our weekly Gathering then we are inadvertently teaching them that "church" is only for adults. However...
5. Maybe we should be setting up community blogs or discussion groups or something for parents who just aren't sure how to talk to and teach their children about their faith. We have a lot of great families in our community and we probably all have little rituals and "aha moments" that other parents could benefit from. However....
6. It seems like most of us agree that we could learn about God from our kids and when is it their turn to teach?
And so it goes,,,,, all I know is, I don't know- I don't have the answer.
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