Why We Don’t Have “Children’s Church”

Some congregations our size or larger have what they call “Children’s Church” or
“Children’s Bible Hour” or some similar name. It amounts to a separate class for young children
during the worship assembly. Those who promote this arrangement are usually well-intentioned,
thinking they are doing children a favor by providing them with something more interesting or
“age-appropriate” while the adults and older children worship separately, and without
“distractions.” Occasionally we are asked, and you may have wondered, why we do not provide
such a class here. There are several reasons you may want to consider.

1. Here’s the first issue: Such an arrangement runs into problems when we seriously
   consider and understand the scriptural concept of the “assembly.” The word “assembly” is used in
   the New Testament in a very specialized sense. It does not refer to just any get-together, Bible
   class or social gathering. It refers to a designated gathering of the entire church, at which every
   member is expected to be present if at all possible. We are commanded not to “forsake” the
   assembly, (Hebrews 10:25). To “forsake” means to intentionally miss, abandon, or absent
   ourselves. We all recognize that there are some among us who are not able to attend an assembly
   due to sickness, physical ailments, age restrictions, bad weather, etc., but that is certainly not the
   same as “forsaking.” How can we justify taking some of our number out of the assembly and
   convening a concurrent class at the time when the church is commanded to “assemble yourselves
   together,” (1 Cor. 11:20)? What about the adults who are “teaching” that class? Why are they not
   in the assembly? What are we teaching our young people when we divide the assembly and
   promote the absence of some of our members? Is there not a better way to accomplish the intended
   purpose?
2. It has been my experience that children tend to believe that they are important, that their
   presence matters, that they are wanted, and guess what? They believe that where they are is where
   the most important thing is happening. If we take them out of the assembly and engage their minds
   in something else at that time, they will believe that that “something else” is more important than
   the assembly! After all, if the assembly was that important, why are they not in it? Are we then
   surprised when they casually miss assemblies later, when they get older? Why should we be
   surprised? They have been taught, in essence, that the assembly is not that important. Otherwise
   they would be there! Congregations which have long utilized the “Children’s Church” concept
   frequently find themselves having difficulty maintaining good attendance numbers. Imagine that!
3. Children are getting far more out of the assemblies then we may think. They are noticing
   things. Yes, they notice when mom and dad seem interested in what’s happening, pay respectful
   attention, open their Bibles to the scriptures referenced, sing heartily during the song service, and
   refrain from whispering and passing notes and other distractions. Children notice all of these
   things, and many, many more. These observations are building their attitudes and future behavior.
   But if we take them out of the assembly, they will not notice any of these things. Why rob them of
   the chance to learn these important things? Would it not be better to teach them to behave
   appropriately and honor and respect the “assembling of ourselves together?” Let me give you just
   one example: Think of the one-room school house, where the younger children were learning as
   they were hearing the lessons directed to the older children. When young children are not permitted
   to partake of the Lord’s Supper like mommy and daddy, they wonder why. It is an excellent
   teaching opportunity. They look forward to the time when they will be able to partake. They
   gradually come to understand the grave importance of this particular act of worship. But if they
   were consistently in a class somewhere else, they might never come to fully understand or
   appreciate important concepts such as this.
   No, we don’t have “Children’s Church.” We have an assembly where all families gather
   respectfully and participate to the best of their abilities. What a blessing it is!