Mark 9:30-37
He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
“Children should be seen not heard”, right? Nowhere is this more evident than in a worship service. Picture it – a mom has moved heaven and earth just to be able to bring her family with a very young little, but make it she does and she slips into a pew at the back. Smiles abound. Who doesn’t love a baby in church? But those smiles soon turn to glares and scowls if that teeny-tiny fusses. How might that make the mom feel – certainly not welcome.
I have often told moms and congregations that there is no better sound to confirm that a church is alive, than kid noise. It brings a wonderful smile to my face. I’ve missed our littles in worship for these past 24 months. They need us in their lives, and Church, we need them.
Jesus himself tells us that whoever welcomes a child in His name, welcomes Him. In another part of the Gospels, he tells the disciples that we must come to faith like a child – fully trusting and with honest, unjaded faith.
Church analysts tell us that we are one generation away from the death of the church as we know it. I think that might be optimistic. It may well be that Covid has helped speed that up, families worship at home and the church truly is no longer the center of people’s social circle.
How welcoming are you to children – in the store, on a plane, in church? Remember, we as fellow sojourners are the first way a child will encounter Jesus. We care for them because we know Him…most people in a little’s circle love them because they are related. A child learns how to see their world by watching the people around them. Are you showing them that God is welcoming of their presence, noise, behaviours? After all, He loves you despite all of yours.
Joyfully Yours 