You Won't Find This In A Modern or Mega Church....by Daniel and Tammy Smith

          This evening,while sitting around our table at suppertime,Daniel asked a question for any one of us to answer."What was different today in our home church service,that you would never see in a mega church or a modern church?" Well,we all took our turns...Gabby said,"All the little kids were sitting down ready to listen,they weren't running around." It was a good answer and it was true,the younger children knew what was expected of them,it was time to settle down and listen,but that wasn't the answer Daniel was looking for.Then Danni said,"Children were with their parents."Again,great answer,but not the one Daniel was hoping for.

    Daniel said,"Mr.McMains

was doing something that

you don't see happen in churches any longer." Then I knew what he was talking about, because I noticed it too! Mr. McMains is one of the leaders in our small home church.

His wife and their daughters who live at home,take care of their 2 small adopted children,as well as foster care children.Well,the leaders in our small church take turns giving the message  and leading in Communion.Today happened to be Mr. McMains turn and what caught our attention was the fact, that while he was telling everyone the outline of the sermon,he had their 2 year old son on his lap,turning up his pant cuffs,so he wouldn't trip over them later.That single image spoke of the kind of church Jesus would feel welcomed in and one of which He spoke of in the New Testament.

    

     "And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them," Permit the children to come to Me, do NOT hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you,whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all. And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them."  Mark 10:13-16

      How far the modern churches have strayed from this kind of  teaching.Do children really feel the love of Jesus,the love the churches 'talk' about,when they are herded into Sunday School classrooms like cattle,separated from their parents? The very ones who are given the authority and commanded to ....."bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the LORD."[Eph.6:4b] It makes one wonder,why churches are so hostile towards the very ones that Jesus welcomed into His arms and blessed them! Are we sacrificing our children on the altar of our selfish,self centered culture or perhaps choosing a subtle lie that says,"Children need their space" or "I'm not qualified to teach my child" or even," My child needs to have fun and they won't sit still long enough"? These are pressing questions that beg an answer......

      "Hear,O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one.You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.These words which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."Deuteronomy 6:4-8