Children's Ministry: Not The Future

I often hear people say that children are the future of the church. My response is that children are the church in this present moment. They will become adults and bear greater responsibilities as they mature, but they absolutely are the Church right now. Read on and be encouraged to see children and discipleship in a new light.

Have you ever considered the value of the child? Not just an individual child, but the child that exists everywhere people exist. What is the worth of the ones who are least able to contribute to our communities? Our children, particularly very young ones, passively receive the food, warmth, and comfort that we provide. They are, by definition, consumers.

We Americans are conditioned by the Puritan work ethic, which emphasizes producing, creating, and building. We praise the inventors and creators amongst us. Unfortunately, young children don't fit into any of those roles in ways that produce tangible results for our society as a whole. The adults who are tuned in to children understand the value in the creative and inventive work of childhood, but there are not many adults who do.

In contrast, Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven is made up of children. They are the primary citizens whose example Jesus urges adults to emulate without any of the prerequisites of creating, producing, or building. Children are the Kingdom of Heaven. When we say that children are "the future of the Church", we imply they are not yet the Church. Yet Jesus makes it clear that children are the Church. Now.

Therefore, far from being the future of the Church, children are the essence of the Church right now, precisely as they are today. With all the wiggles and giggles, children are to be treasured, valued, held in high esteem, and carefully discipled. If we are not doing that, then we are denying one of Christ's most fervent messages: "Bring the children to me and do not hinder them." (Matt. 19:14)

So, how do small to medium churches in the GMC create spaces and experiences that reflect Jesus' command to bring the children to Him, rather than hindering them from doing so? In certain circumstances, it may necessitate a comprehensive overhaul of our current programs.

Here are a few things that you can do this week, even if there are no or very few children in your congregation.

1. Be realistic. For generations, we have been more concerned about whether children are being quiet and still rather than if they are growing in their love for Christ. We have created an image where children are depicted as mannequins in the pews rather than faithful disciples of Jesus. The vast majority of our efforts in children's discipleship focus on ensuring that the older generations are not disturbed by the children, rather than welcoming the children with all their developmental needs into the full fellowship of believers. Children are not wired to be still and quiet. They learn these appropriate behaviors when adults patiently teach and guide. Let the children worship and learn with the adults. They understand far more than you realize.

2. Disciple over discipline. We often hear that children must be disciplined. As a rule, when someone says this, they mean that children should be punished. Discipline and punishment are distinct concepts with different outcomes. Discipline teaches us to learn, grow, and adjust our behavior accordingly. We become stronger and better when we are disciplined. Punishment, including belittling, berating, badgering, or bullying, erodes relationships and creates an atmosphere of division. Punishment does not teach; it threatens. Develop the method of Christ as you instruct children in the ways of worship. Taking a squirming child outside for a beating is not discipline. It is the opposite. In fact, it decreased the odds that they will return to church when they are old enough to make their own choices. Where did all the church children go? They went where they were welcomed and discipled—such as soccer, baseball, etc.

3. Commit. When I hear of "low to no prep" Sunday school material and children's teachers rotating so that no one "has to be there" every Sunday, my heart just sinks. Or breaks. Depending on the day. Are our children really worth so little? Where are the followers of Christ who will commit to raising the next generation of believers? If we refuse to teach, why are we surprised when the children don't learn? Why do we recoil when we hear of our children becoming dependent on artificial intelligence and vivid animated games for their engagement? What options have we offered? When I see a child so dependent on these things, I know that they are not receiving appropriate interaction with the adults God gave them. Pay attention to the children! Ask them questions...concern yourself with their concerns. Bear their burdens, celebrate their victories. Demonstrate that a life lived in faith is one of joy and completion. Come alongside the children with joyful commitment to being Jesus in their lives.

If you have a comment about this, please share it in the comment section below. I welcome anyone to have a conversation about how we can offer Christ to each generation.