Raised Catholic, we went to Church weekly and on Holy Days, as soon after we were Baptised (usually a month after birth). I have 3 siblings, and we are all within 4 years of each other (2 are twins). Prior (and in addition) to going to Catholic school K-12, I remember vividly being a small child and being in church. I remember my younger brother climbing over a pew one time. Obviously, if a child is disruptive, you remove him/her to deal with it. How are the kids expected to learn if they are not exposed to it from the start??

Keep in mind that the quote and the discussion does refer to a general observance, without regard to individual reasons for leaving children. The offense to you personally may be lessened when you understand it from that angle.

However, part of your comment itself reveals the misconception we have of children and perhaps is one of the errors behind the removal of children from the worship of God.

You said:

“There is nothing worse than unrealistic expectations put on a child.”

Your statement itself may be true, but the context you say it in is not. Thousands of normal children sit happily beside their parents every Sunday and enjoy the Lord’s day. The “unrealistic expectations” come when we haven’t expected common obedience at home…the entire issue requires a dissecting of several elements before we can accurately enter the discussion.

Children are just that and while I agree with teaching my kids how to sit in church – I’ll do so when it’s age-appropriate. There is nothing worse than unrealistic expectations put on a child.

JMHO

I have been thinking and praying a lot about this topic and as I was reading through the scriptures asking the Lord for wisdom and direction in this area, I came to Romans 14. The entire chapter speaks to the things which are not essential doctrine but that might prick at a believer’s conscience. The whole chapter is worthy of studying, but a couple of verses particularly stand out to me. Verse 3 says “The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.” And verse 5 “One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” And verse 17-18 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” And lastly verse 22-23 says “So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

The Bible also says in Matthew 7:16-18
“By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

As believers we need to look at our own church and ask ourselves, “Are we bearing good fruit? (as individual believers and as a whole body)” “Are our children being fed the Word of God?” “Are they growing in their walk with the Lord?” “Are the young people following after the Lord or chasing the things of the world?” If a person can answer “yes” to these questions, then I believe they are in a healthy church (assuming they are teaching sound doctrine).

I really appreciate your blog Kelly and the ideas that you bring to the table. Although I may not always agree with your position, you challenge the believer to take a look at why he/she is doing things and that can only strengthen the body of Christ.

Just for the record, we have done a mix of both (keeping our kids in service and allowing them to go to children’s classes). We homeschool and take the training of our children very seriously.

Lori…3, was it?