Belonging At The Table: Discipleship for Global Methodist Children

How we engage children in our churches is a topic of endless debate among Christian leadership. We want easy and effective ways to welcome and disciple them.

Our African brothers and sisters disciple their children in a radically different way than we do.

What do they know that we don't?

Over the past few decades, faith communities have been scratching their heads and asking, "Where did all the children go, and how do we lure them back to church with their families? Why are the nurseries as empty as a politician's promise?"

Legend has it that fifty years ago, our churches were teeming with kids who were busy learning and singing about Jesus, discovering His love through Bible stories. Singing and solid teaching made the church a joyful place. They felt loved there.

Well, except when they didn’t. But that's a story for another time.

Somewhere along the line, we decided to whisk the kiddos out of the worship service as soon as possible after it begins. Early in the service, some adult summons the children to the front for a quick lesson, where the kids often dish out adorable remarks that crack up the congregation. Then they're herded off to a room far, far away for the rest of the service. It's a moment many folks cherish, like a rare collectible. A cute opening act to worship.

But is this really serving the children? Is this true discipleship, or are we just giving them a play date with friends? What do children really need from the church? And who exactly is children's discipleship meant to serve?

I'd argue that Children's Church is often a speed bump on the road to true discipleship for children. Hold your emails, folks! Consider for a moment that there's a better way if we take the time to discover it. I am aware that this sounds radical and will upset some well-established apple carts, but hear me out.

Imagine a grassroots movement within the Global Methodist Church where children's needs are the headline, and adults figure out how to meet those needs. What if adults realize that children in church are the main act, not just the warm-up band? What if we started seeing children as scripture describes them? God's word tells us that children are a gift, a blessing, a great part of God's creation. We are commanded to teach our children at all times (Deuteronomy 6:2). This is our most important work.

In rural African churches, which are the hangouts for the faithful seeking God's face, children are seen in a way that would make most Western churches do a double-take. To our African brothers and sisters, children are an inheritance from the Lord. They're proof that God still wants His creation to sing, dance, and draw near. They're treasured and carefully discipled.

African culture involves the whole community when it comes to young people. Elders know they must pass on their wisdom like a family recipe. Kids worship alongside adults. They're there for all the praise and worship activities and remain present while the pastor delivers the message of Jesus. Anything they don't understand, they are free to ask about, but like children everywhere, they pick up on far more than we realize. They become knowledgeable and faithful disciples while still young.

Now, compare that to our well-off Western churches. Children are sent to a room as far from the sanctuary as possible, where a few adults deemed talented and qualified look after them. Contact with other adults is about as rare as a unicorn sighting.

Separated from their parents, our children do not experience worship and learning about Jesus alongside their families. Instead, they are often shown cartoon versions of sacred events and offered coloring sheets along with red Kool-Aid and animal crackers.

I understand the two primary objections:

1. Parents are reluctant to bring their adorable, fifty-pound, hyperactive squirrel into a worship service. They want a peaceful hour for themselves and for those around them.

2. We have convinced ourselves that children don't "get anything" out of adult worship.

My response is this:

1. Your energetic child can and should learn the social norms, such as remaining in their seat and being quiet for one hour. It may take 2-3 consecutive weeks, but it can be done. Without taking them outside and beating them as the old folks did. I have a technique that works. I will be happy to send that info to anyone who reaches out.

2. For children, sermons are a lot like vitamin C in the body. They take in as much as they can, and then the rest is flushed away. You will likely be astounded at the questions and comments your child offers throughout the week if you allow them to stay with you.

3. My additional response is that neither you nor your children are called to "get anything" from worship. We are all called to worship in order to give our praise and thanks to the Lord. The sermon should inspire us to go into the world and give Jesus to those in need of His mercy. We do not go to church to receive. We go to give. Do we receive? Sure. But that is not why we go.

Children in our churches are worthy of respect and solid instruction in our faith. They can handle deeper theological issues than they get credit for. They can learn and receive solid scriptural teachings within the worship services that we typically consider "over their heads". Consider family worship.