Dismiss the Children

Let's consider the passage at Matthew 19:13-14: "Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"

What was the lesson Jesus had for the disciples here? Why did the disciples rebuke those who brought the little children to the Lord? Perhaps they were annoyed that these people would bring children and in so doing delay Jesus and the disciples' journey. Perhaps they felt it was an interruption in their "important" discussions. In any case, Jesus made it clear that the children were never to be turned away.

Have you ever sat in a church where the children were asked to leave the service, to go to "children's church" (whatever that's supposed to be, I have yet to find it in the Bible) in order that the adults not be inconvienced or interrupted during the sermon? What would Jesus say? Would he say "separate the children from their parents, take them away from me as I speak words of truth through my under-shepherd, the minister"?

Sometimes we have all the good intentions in the world, as I'm sure the disciples thought they did. But the road to hell is littered with good intentions. The word for children in the passage I quoted is understood to be little children ranging from infants to 6 year olds. These children are to sit before the Lord and his teachers. This was the case for Hebrew children during the biblical times. It was the case in our early history in this country. It is only now, in our selfishness, that we turn the children out.

Children learn not only from what is being preached, but especially when they are very young they learn from watching their parent's interaction with the service. Seeing how their parents praise God in song and prayer. By watching how attentitively the parents listen to the sermon and take notes on relevant points. How the parents talk about the sermon points throughout the week with them. By seeing how their parents put into action what they are learning. It is through this that children learn about God, what it means to be a Christian and what faith is all about and how its lived. Not by being sent off to watch a movie or listen to a talk that might impart some information. They learn by watching mom and dad every day, including Sunday. That's what changes a child's life. How prideful are we if we think we can take over mom and dad's job?

Jesus would never "dismiss the children" ... let's make sure we don't either.