Jesus, Children, and the Church

^14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. ^15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

^16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise’^c?”  ^c Psalm 8:2

(The Holy Bible : New International Version (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984), Mt 21:14-16.)

 

 

 

 

Almost a year ago, we began a ministry at our church called "KFC" (Kids For Christ), this is a worship service that takes place at the same time as the adult worship service, and I LOVE it.  Why, you might ask.  Well one of the biggest reasons is Children come to worship with no other agenda than to just worship God.

 

 

We play a game that has to do with whatever the lesson is for the day, sing upbeat current contemporary worship songs, take up an offering for missions (right now it's NAMB, North American Mission Board), sometimes watch a short video clip, I do a lesson, and then if time allows we break into small groups to spend time discussing what the lesson was.  I love it, the kids love it, and many of my adult helpers want to be up there every week.

 

The GBBC Kids are excited each and every week to be there.

 

Why can't church be that way?  Why can't adults get that excited about Jesus.

 

In these verses the priests and scribes (aka the "church people") became indignant.  Okay, so what does indignant mean?  Webster's dictionary defines indignant as:  anger aroused by something unworthy (Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary., Includes Index., 10th ed. (Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.: Merriam-Webster, 1996, c1993).)

 

Did you catch that, the church people became angry because they felt like the children did something "unworthy" of God and the church.

 

You have to love Jesus response:



“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants

you have ordained praise’^c?”  (Mt 21:16.)

 

Jesus essentially says, "Yes, I heard them.  They are doing what they are supposed to"

 

Jesus and the Children could teach the Church what it is to worship.  No agenda, just worship at it's purest.

 

think about it,

 

Chris.