The Shadow-gloom and Weight of the Sacred

Having a child makes you privy to conversations in which you might not otherwise participate, or in my case, listen. In a recent conversation with a family member, we were discussing children in a church setting. We were talking about removing rambunctious or noisy children from the church service. We both agreed that such children should not necessarily be removed from the church service but for different reasons. This family member of mine stated, essential, that noisy children should remain in the worship service because how else are they going to learn to sit down and shut up? This struck me as funny. The church setting is an adult setting. The only way children are going to learn not to disturb the adult setting of the church is be there and understand that their banter (however it may sound) is not welcome.

Since returning to the States, we've been primarily attending my parent's church in Mustang. This is the congregation where I attended while in high school and it is a group of people who personally mean a lot to me. One of the things they offer to people with children is a bag of exercises, such as coloring books or stickers, that children can use to keep entertained during the church service (I think I mentioned that the church service is an adult environment). Appropriately enough, these bags have printer on their front side the phrase "Quiet Bag." I like to (half jokingly) call them "Do Not Let the Little Children Come to Me" Bags.

In Matthew 18.1-5, Jesus discusses with his disciples how one cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless he or she is like a child: "Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me." In Matthew 19.13-15 there is an instance in which little children were being brought to Jesus but the disciples spoke to those who brought the children with stern words. Jesus famously responds to disciples actions, "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs"

Perhaps we adults are a little too impressed with our adulthood. The church in Mustang is no exception; this is the case across the country. Children should be silent so that adults can do whatever it is that they do. Yet Jesus indicates that the adults should be more like children. I can't help but wonder what our church services would be like if the children were really a part of it rather than something that should be silenced so that an adult male can get up and speak without interruption.