[If you go back through the archives you'll find earlier posts about worship.]
When you discuss whether or not to include children in the "adult" worship service the very first question to address is "What is Worship"? Don't assume that you agree. Children, teens, adults, are we spectators or active participants?
According to Ex. 7:17 God lead His people out of Egypt, a gathering of generations, so they could worship Him in the desert. It would be interesting to know at what point including children fell out of fashion.
Assuming that worship is about God, not about us or our children, does God want families to worship Him together or in separate spaces?
In Hebrew culture the individual drew his personal identity (heart, mind, soul, strength) not only from who he was as an individual (talents, skills, strengths), but who he was in relationship to those around him. If worship is about loving God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, how would this Hebrew concept of "self" influence the way we worship God?
If our service is designed for adults what must we change, not just to make the service meaningful to children, but to enable them to worship God with us in spirit and in truth? Just to expand our thinking alittle, flip that: What would the kids in a kids' service or a teen service have to change to enable adults to worship God with them?
Is worship intended to be a grown-up cognitive experience? A didactic experience? An age-appropriate experience? Is that the heart of worship? Is kids' worship intended to be simple, fun, happy, kinethestic and entertaining? Is that the heart of worship? Does worshipping God in spirit and in truth differ from generation to generation? Does it change as human beings grow and develop? If both groups are worshipping God in spirit and in truth, can they do it together?
There aren't lots of references to Jesus interacting with kids alone in the Gospels, yet in Matthew 21:15 it says that the chief priest saw the children shouting "Hosanna to the Son of David" in the temple and apparently it was upsetting. (Not to Jesus, to the high priest.) There's no mention of a children's minister or a choir director. How was it that these children responded to Christ Jesus this way with so little mention of His interaction with them in separate situations?
Is worshipping the-God-of-every-generation, generation-centered? Doesn't God deserve our worship no matter how old we are?
Do we consider the way children worship boring, trivial, and insignificant? Flip that around: Don't a lot of teens see adult worship that way? Why?
What does it look like for a gathering of generations to worship the Living God in spirit and in truth? What does it take to please God? Does it matter how old you are?
Sidebar: One reason the pastors at Artisan are including children is the hope that as they grow, the kids will always feel like they belong - that worship won't be just a grown-up service that they can't relate to - something designed for a different generation. The hope is that generations listening to one another will continually shape not only worship but "church" so it can keep growing and changing and thriving as the generations change without having to die and start over. Check back in 20-25 years. :-)
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Hi, Margie. I just wanted to let you know that your blog is the answer to much prayer. I am seeking to propose kid-related changes at our church, and you have expressed many of my own sentiments in such an inspirational way. Feel encouraged; you are making a difference! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWe go round and round with this at church, and I go in circles with it in my head.
ReplyDeleteI, personally, like a more intellectual sermon with historical references and even references to the original Hebrew or Greek roots of the words. I'm one of those freaks who loves taking classes for the fun of it. My opinion is that kids would be lost in this type of setting. Others like more of a down to earth lesson, which would be more friendly to kids but still "boring" to many of them.
Everyone likes different styles of worship; that's why we have 3 distinctly different worship services at out church. Perhaps there's a way to incorporate a service that finds a good balance for both adults and kids, even if it is a Sunday night or midweek service. Then everyone has a service to go to.
It's a tough argument with logic on both sides of the issue.
[Welcome, Laura, and thanks.]
ReplyDeleteCLPC K, I agree that this is a tough discussion with logic on both sides. Absolutely! I, too, really enjoy hearing about all the historical, cultural and linguistic elements in a passage of scripture.
I hope it's ok. My comment got long so I'm going to post it, instead.