Children in church, what?

In a disciple driven movement of which I am privileged to be part of things should be different. It is different not just to be different, but since we own no buildings and have no large budgets or programs per say and certainly no desire to get more butts in pews because we don't have those either.

When it comes to children have you ever thought about this? Assumption worth considering: What if by default, your children view the church teacher as the spiritual authority instead of mom and dad? This is happening especially when mom and dad are letting the church do it. Because parents are not engaging spiritual discipleship when the child becomes a teen they have no authority or respect to do so.

We hold the value that parents should be discipling their own children. As parents come to Christ we simply teach them how to disciple their kids. As those parents meet in groups during the week we offer some excellent childcare. But every parent and NOT just the church is responsible for spiritual development of their children. Since we don't go to church (terminology that reflects a huge difference), the body is the Church and we prefer to gather as a Christ community all together - for worship, communion, singing to God, sharing from the Word and from each other in praise to God for how He is working through us. Following our time of worship we share in a carry in meal together. It's a great time with great food. When we gather together we insist that all the children remain in our deal with their parents, and, as a congregation we help out with the kids so the rest of the family can support mom and dad and so the kids will know that the Christ families loves them and so that they can benefit spiritually.

Things I have observed:
1. Since we have been doing this, the children are whispering instead of talking loudly, they are sitting instead of moving all around, they are singing or at least trying to sing, they are reverent instead of chaotic, they are going home and talking with their parents about things that happened and about things that were shared in the worship time. They move from rowdy to calm and they are listening.
2. Little Levi and I mean old enough to know that He knows Jesus and old enough to lead other children positively, but young enough for all to be surprised at how much he is getting out of the teaching and involvement with his larger family. Levi asked his mother, "Mom when can I take communion? I accepted Jesus, why can't I take communion?" About that time Pastor Terry comes by and joins in. Pastor said, "Levi, what does the bread represent?" Levi said, "It represents God's body." Pastor said, "What does the juice represent?" Levi said, after thinking deeply, "I forgot that part." Pastor kneeling down to Levi's level said, "Levi, when you go home this afternoon ask your daddy to show you in the Bible what the juice represents and what communion is all about." Guess what happened? Levi went home and asked dad to help him understand. Here's the picture, Dad and Levi sitting together with the Bible open as dad gives Scripture instruction.

Notice what happened. Because Levi was in the service, he began to desire having communion and learned that those who have Jesus should have communion. In some church settings because children are not in the service, when would Levi learn about and have communion? In some settings it is after the graduation from high school if then, that they have their first communion. Also, when I was a pastoring and a child wanted to know about communion I taught them, in this case, the father discipled his own son and remain the spiritual authority in Levi's life.

Isn't this exciting? When children are in the service, and the longer they are the more reverent they are. When parents own the responsibility of discipling their children, the children view the parent as the spiritual authority in their life. This is worth considering.

Now before you throw in the wild card, the children are with other children while their parents are in small groups and learning as well. And when we gather for the worship we have time before and during the meal for the kids to interact with each other.

I love watching the children and I am amazed how much they a paying attention even when it doesn't look like it. What do you think about this?