Dear Cornerstone Family,
Greetings and blessings to you.
Last week in this space I addressed the importance of children being in corporate worship. If you missed that communication, take a moment later today to read it. You will a find it halfway down the home page of the Cornerstone website (see Pastoral Note, September 8, 2024).
Today, I want to provide a few more reasons for bringing children into worship and close this subject by helping parents know when to remove their children from the service for the sake of worship and as an act of love to their fellow worshippers.
With these two threads in mind, let’s consider three reasons for bringing children into worship:
Worship shapes a child’s sense of being a part of the church. Just by being present in worship, a child is learning at a young age, “I am a part of the church.” This early sense of belonging is an expression of the position God gives and the promises God makes to children in Scripture (Deut. 7:9-16, Psalm 34:9-11, Mark 10:14, 1 Cor. 7:14).
Worship trains a child to be a worshipper. In a precognitive sense, the weekly rhythm of the gospel expressed in the liturgy has a formative influence on the child. In a more conscious way, they are learning the vocabulary of worship through listening, singing, praying, and even memorizing the more repetitive elements of the worship service like the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostles Creed (Psalm 127:5, Prov. 22:6, 2 Tim. 3:15).
Worship draws a child into communion with God. Through worship, God meets with his people. Through the means of grace, God works in the lives of his people bringing salvation and sanctification. Worship, then, prepares for and is a foretaste of what we pray will be the eternal reality for our children—loving communion with the Lord (1 Peter 1:23, John 1:3, 1 Thess. 2:13).
With that said, there are times to remove children from the worship service. Consider these points:
If a child is repeatedly drawing attention to themselves, and the effect of their behavior is drawing others’ attention away from the Lord and worship, then the child should be removed from worship.
The goal of removing a child from worship is to preserve worship for others and to instruct, train, and, if warranted, discipline the child in order that they might reenter worship. Remember, kids are smart and sinners! If the child is not trained/disciplined when removed from worship, they will learn they can “act out” in church and be removed without any consequence. Parental wisdom and consistency are key.
When you remove a child, attempt, if possible, to exit discretely through the nearest door—preferably the back of the chapel. Then, make use of the “Cry Corner” on the second floor past the kitchen at the end of the hallway. You will be able to hear the audio of the worship service while you’re absent from the gathered assembly.
How long will it take to train my child for worship? Every child is different. When a child enters worship, the need to exit may happen frequently and should not be a cause for shame or embarrassment. It’s a natural part of church life. As a child matures and learns what’s expected of them in worship, it will get easier. Follow the three P’s: be persistent, patient, and prayerful.
Well, more could be said, but I’m way over my limit! Let’s all be vigilant to pray for our covenant children and the parents who are training them. May the Lord be pleased to form a joyful band of worshippers among the covenant children of Cornerstone!
Your servant,
