Hi,
We attend a church where the children are welcome and we know how blessed we are because we have attended church in the past where they were, well, not.
How we chose to handle these things over the years has been any mix of the following:
1. Just buck the system and keep them with us anyway (no one has actually asked us to leave – though there was a ‘reminder’ in the bulletin once about babies having a nursery provided when we were the only ones bringing our baby into the service!-that was pretty embarrassing. :/)
2. Teach the class they would be going to, or
3. See what the topic for the quarter is and then, if the child needs that teaching we send them or, if not, tell the leadership something like, “Oh, thanks, but we’ve already covered that in great detail; maybe next quarter.”
For slightly older ones, I have taken Edith Shaeffer’s idea in…in…oh, I can’t remember that book! Anyway, it was a wonderful idea of getting a composition book and ‘sketching’ the sermon for the children as they sit next to you. My children have loved this and, truth be told, I have gained more from many sermons because of it! Now, this takes help from Dad or an older sibling if you have tiny ones to tend to as well, but I highly recommend it. What IS the title of that book?!
As for youth groups; children will eventually find their own ‘youth group,’ but it will be with their like-minded friends and you will be with them because it will be within the context of home. That is not the church’s jurisdiction.
We teach from a very young age Psalm 16:6 – “The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.” When they can grasp that Dad and Mom are not out to ruin their social life, but that God has ordained the family they live in, they are much more able to come under that authority and rejoice in it. I love the way Elsie Dinsmore’s father said in one of the books that he would give her anything if it was good for her and within his power to provide it. And, as always, children are welcome to appeal to a higher authority. They can ask God to change their parent’s hearts on a matter.
As usual, I’ve been too preachy…sorry again, ladies, I am just so excited to see families eager to raise a godly seed for the Lord.
Blessings,
Cindy