Let The Children Come To Church

INTRODUCTION

What is happening to our children today? Anne, the daughter of Billy Graham responded to this question;

I think it started when Madalyn Murray O’Hair complained that she didn’t want any prayer in our schools, and we said its OK.

Then someone else said you had better not read the Bible in school! The Bible that says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said, OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock, wrote that we should not spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities might damage their self-esteem? And we said, OK.

Then someone said that teachers and principals better not discipline our children when they misbehave, and our administrators said that no one better touch a student when they misbehave because we don’t want any bad publicity, and we surely don’t want to be sued.

So now we’re asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, and why they don’t know right from wrong, and why it doesn’t bother them to kill. I think it has a great deal to do with “we reap what we sow.”

CONTEXT

Luke chapter 2 records for us the birth and boyhood of Jesus

From verses 21 onwards, Luke tells us about Jesus’ first visit to the temple, when He was just eight days old (So just as we bring our children for baptism or dedication, the Jews, would bring their sons to be circumcised!)

Then from verses 41 onwards, we read of Jesus again, in His Father’s house when He was 12 years old.

Now on their return journey from the Passover pilgrimage, Jesus got lost, and his parents finally found Jesus, teaching and learning in the temple.

In the last two verses of this chapter. Luke records for his readers and perhaps especially for parents, the growth and development of Jesus, which should be a pattern for our children’s intellectual, physical, spiritual and social progress!

CHILDREN DISAPPEARING FROM CHURCH

… after three days, they found Him in the temple, … (vs. 46)

After a desperate search for three days, Jesus’ parents finally discovered Him in the Temple. Now, if your child (ormine) were missing, and we frantically searched for them, where will we find them?

In their bedroom texting? (Do you know that McDonalds have fewer playing areas as they found that children are on I-pads, or I-phones!)
Or, will we find them at a night club dancing?
Or, with a group of friends on ice? (not skating, or playing ice hockey, but on the drug ice!)
Or, at the police station, for drunk driving?
Or, will we find them in church? (I wonder how many of us believe that church is the most unlikely place we would find a lost child!)

Today it is hard to find children in church on a Sunday as they are at tuition classes, swimming classes, or music classes! (Now in our home too there was much debate when our son Yohan had tournaments or matches on a Sunday). Parents research shows that

“Children who attend church regularly, are happier and healthier. And (that) church, is a great place to learn morals, and the Bible’.

CHILDREN ARE DISCOVEING AT CHURCH

… sitting down (or, seated) in the midst (in the middle of, or, among) the teachers, both hearing (or, listening) (to) them and asking questions (or, inquiring) (from) them (vs. 46).

Now the parents of Jesus found our Lord sitting among the religious teachers (Today we may say among Sunday School teachers), discovering and discussing morals, values and the Bible! And so, it was while seated in the Temple, that Jesus heard the voice of these teachers explaining the meaning of the message of the Bible. Note that for three days (not just for 45 minutes on a Sunday), the 12-year-old Jesus discussed God’s Word and surprised His listeners with His understanding and answers.

Katie Ely, in an article, ’10 reasons to take your kids to church’, states;

“As our culture slides further into depravity, kids need church more than ever. Our children are being constantly barraged with teachings that directly contradict Christian beliefs. If Christian parents don’t actively work to undo this indoctrination, our children will soon have the same beliefs as the secular world”.

ADLUTS ARE DUMBFOUNDED AT CHURCH

Now all those hearing Him were amazed (or, astonished) at His understanding (or, His intelligence; or, spiritual insight)and answers (vs. 47).

The teachers were all quite taken with him, impressed with the sharpness of his answers (MSG).

Now the word amazed in the Greek means ‘to stand out from’. Our Lord’s ability to extraordinarily comprehend spiritual matters, together with the answers that Jesus gave ‘stood out from others’.

Luke tells us that all those who heard Jesus, such as the Jewish Rabbis, were impressed, at Jesus’ intellectual spiritual insights and knowledge. They were stunned, and saw that Jesus was sensational! Someone said that it is like a middle-school child discussing physics with a rocket scientist.

Meanwhile, the word ‘understanding’ in the Greek, does not mean to possess facts. But refers to using what one knows wisely, in real life situations. Information is important. But it must be understood and applied to life’s situations. At the age of just 12, Jesus, was able to apply spiritual truths, to life’s situations.

Now do our children, whom most parents push to excel academically at times at the cost of church, end up, biblically illiterate! You may be dumbfounded about the state of Bible knowledge in the US in the 21st century:

12% of ‘Christians’ believe Noah was married to Joan of Arc
The most popular answer as to who delivered the Sermon on the Mount was Billy Graham
In the UK, 27% think Superman is or might be a biblical story, while 1 in 3 believes the same about Harry Potter
82% of Americans stated that “God helps those who help themselves,” is a Bible verse.
Another survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that over 50% thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife.

Now both the Old and the New Testament tells parents to raise their children with Christian discipline and instruction. (Deuteronomy 6:7 & Ephesians 6:4) However, taking your children to church is a great way to supplement Christian instruction. Katie Ely, writes;

“Our culture is actively seeking to secularize our kids and quash their Christian beliefs. This is no time to be complacent and think that church is not important. More than ever, our kids need to be in church, hearing the Word of God, to undo the damage being done by our culture”.

IS YOUR CHILD’S GREATEST DESIRE – CHURCH?

(Did) you not know (Were you not aware) that it is necessary of me (emphatic) to be in (the house of; or, in the interest of) My Father (vs. 49).

Now verse 49 are the first recorded words of Jesus in the Bible. During Jesus’ day, it was customary, for a son. to take up his father’s business. But Jesus didn’t follow in Joseph’s footsteps as a carpenter. Now today many parents expect their children to be reflection or a reaction of themselves or of a rival. Therefore, we will push them academically or in sports, even if they miss out on church

to reach great heights like us (reflection of us),
or, reach great heights because we failed to do so in life (reaction of us!)
or, to reach great heights as our rivals (nephew or niece, or friend’s son or daughter have achieved in the swimming pool, the cricket field, or at A levels, or at an overseas Uni!)

But just as Jesus inquired from his parents,

‘Did you not know that I had to be here in my Father’s house, dealing with the things of My Father?’

God says, Did you not know that that the children I gave you, must be in their Father’s house?”