Why we choose not to have a nursery or children's church at Providence: conclusion

For the past 3 days, I have been posting our reasons for not having a nursery or children’s church at Providence.  These are not all of the reasons, but are 4 primary ones.  Today is the final posting in this series.  If you have not read the prior 3 reasons, please do so before reading the grand finale.

Reason 4:

            The fourth reason we do not have a nursery or children’s church is the most important and significant reason.  Isn’t it common to save the best for last?  We do not have nurseries or children’s churches at Providence simply because we do not see nurseries or children’s churches in the Bible.  In fact, we often see children in the congregation.  Here are a few examples…

“Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess.” (Deuteronomy 31:12-13, ESV)

“While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.” (Ezra 10:1, ESV)

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:1-4; cf. Mk 9:36-37)

This is similar to an encounter in Matthew 19:

“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.” (Matthew 19:13-15)

Paul addresses children directly in at least two of his epistles that were to be read aloud to the assembled congregation. He writes:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother' (this is the first commandment with a promise), 'that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.'” (Ephesians 6:1-3; cf. Col. 3:20)

            If children are seen with their parents in many (if not all) of the assemblies in the Old Testament…and if they are addressed in the congregations of the New Testament along with husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers…doesn’t it stand to reason that if Moses or Ezra or Paul or Jesus showed up in the flesh in most of our churches, they would wonder where all the little ones were?  We have just chosen to play it safe at Providence, just in case they do happen to visit one Sunday and inquire as to the whereabouts of the little ones. 

            Now, let me clarify in conclusion again that I am not saying that your church isn’t orthodox if it has a nursery or a children’s church.  I am just sharing with you some (not all) of the reasons why we at Providence have chosen not to have a nursery or a “children’s department.”  It isn’t because we are a new church and haven’t organized these departments yet.  It isn’t because we don’t have the budgeted money to hire out help yet.  It isn’t because we don’t have the volunteers.  It is because we believe children enhance worship, are encouraged and shaped by worship, are the responsibility of the parents instead of the “nursery workers,” and we are completely within the boundaries of Scripture to function this way.  And on top of all that our children’s ministry isn’t hurting.  We actually have more infants and children than adults!  I hope this helps those who care to understand why we function the way we function.  Yes, it can be challenging and demanding, but the benefits sure outweigh the costs!  Keep your eyes open.  I might even address why we choose not to have traditional youth ministry in the near future!