Lies the church believe about children

Before I go in to the lies the church believe I want to clarify that this is not every church, but a majority of the churches. I have talked to many different people from many different churches, and I have also been in children’s ministry for about 9-10 years now. I don’t claim to be an expert, but I am just sharing my experience.

Children's Ministry Isn't Important

Some may say that children's ministry isn't important because they're just children after all. And you’re just an adult after all. This reminds me of a saying from Horton Hears a Who by Dr.Suess. “A person's a person no matter how small.” God sees us all the same, as his creation, that he loves with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). It doesn't matter if you are as good as mother Teresa, as bad as Hitler, as young as the newborn, or as old as the oldest person you know, he loves us all the same with a love we can't understand. So to say that one of God's creations are not important really is not a good argument.

Children are innocent in the eyes of God

Children are innocent in the eyes of God. Any parent should be able to tell you otherwise. Romans 3:23 applies to everyone (for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God). The punishment for sin is separation from God forever. It seems like a terrible thing to say that our children are separated from God because of their sin, but to say otherwise would be a lie. All the more reason to teach our children from a young age about the savior, Jesus Christ, who can save them from their sin.

Children don’t or can’t understand salvation

Continuing with the last one, some say they don’t or can’t understand salvation or other concepts about the bible. Matthew 18:1-5 “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. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” Jesus himself said that it is a child who can best understand. Children are much smarter than people give them credit for. Children are sponges-they take in everything. All the good things, and bad things. It's also said in Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Children don’t play a part in the church

Children don’t play a part in the church. Every person in the church plays a part. Sure they can't run a program, but they can sure help sometimes. They are some of the best helpers. 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 14 “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, 'Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, 'Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,' that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”  Yes, children do have their own spiritual gifts that can benefit the church, if only they have someone to help them understand and give them opportunities to use their gifts.

Children’s problems aren't as big as our adult problems.

Children’s problems aren't as big as our adult problems. The person who said this does not know what some of our children have to go through. “50% of all North-American children will witness the divorce of their parents. Almost half of them will also see the breakup of a parent's second marriage.” http://www.children-and-divorce.com/children-divorce-statistics.html . Here is some more information for those who still think that children don’t go through a lot these days.
http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/glance.asp.

We can wait until the children are older to teach them so they can really understand

This one goes along with the one that says they cannot understand salvation. Some say we can wait until they are older to teach them so they can really understand. Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” How can they understand if we don’t tell them and we already know they can understand because Jesus said so in Matthew 18. Also, if we wait we may lose them. More than half of those who accept Jesus as their lord and savior will do so before the age of 12. Less than 6% of people will accept Christ after the age of 12. It is vitally important that we teach them at a young age.

Children’s ministry is just Games, stories, crafts, and snacks

Last but not least, some say Children’s ministry is just Games, stories, crafts, and snacks. Children’s ministry is so much more than that. You are forming children in to who they are going to be and how they will respond to the world around them. You may be teaching a future president, pastor, teacher, cop, mother, doctor, garbage man, secretary, and so on. Each with the possibility of changing lives. All you have to do is say I am willing to treat these children like real people and love them for who they are. You don’t have to work every week, you don’t even have to teach. Children's ministry needs people to sign children in. People who can sit with the kids. People to provide snacks people, to help with crafts and games, and so on. You can be a part of changing our world one child at a time.