Comments on: Church: Where Children Fit http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2007/09/18/church-where-children-fit the home of Nathan Colquhoun Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:52:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mikey arce http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2007/09/18/church-where-children-fit#comment-1739 mikey arce Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1739 these are great thoughts, but it sounds like you are trying to re-invent the wheel. <br /> <br /> maybe start by asking children their thoughts, or talk to people who had good church experiences in their youth. these are great thoughts, but it sounds like you are trying to re-invent the wheel.

maybe start by asking children their thoughts, or talk to people who had good church experiences in their youth.

]]> By: DVV http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2007/09/18/church-where-children-fit#comment-1743 DVV Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1743 I wonder if you are missing the point when Jesus said that we are to be like little children. If you believe that we should be investing our time into the children and not the adults then what do we do with Jesus who trained the 12, the 70 and the 120. What do we do with the Jesus who preached to the multitudes. I wonder if Jesus was trying to encourage us to see through the eyes of a child. To have an open mind to learn new things. To trust without reservation. To accept the word of God as it is rather than what we would like it to say, or even try to interpret what it says to fit our needs and wants. The most formulative years in the life of a child in developing thier concept of God is between the ages of 5 & 8. There are elements that I don't want to have in my Christian Walk that exists in children. Selfishness, yet given the right training and role modeling, children can be wonderful examples of giving. Do we see our children as a burden and inconvenience, someones that we have to tolerate and endure, or do we see our children as opportunities that we have the privlege of investing in. For the most part, our children are a reflection of ourselves, especially of thier parents. Maybe the established church understands the need to provide for thier children good solid teaching that is at thier level and so they invest into the lives of those adults who have a burden for children to give them the tools they need to teach. One of the biggest influences in my life was my Sunday School teacher when I was going to Temple Baptist Church. I can't say that I remember her lessons, but I remember her and her love for the Lord and the fact that she was there for me and others faithfully. When I graduated Bible College and started in the ministry, I went back to the church to find her and thank her. It wasn't just what she said, but who she was. Her faith was a part of her everyday life. <br /> I wonder how much of our frustration with children and how to minister to them most effectively has to do with our own shortcomings as parents and adults. As you've said, it's not about me, but about Him and how we can serve him more faithfully with the gifts and talents He has given. <br /> Food for thought. I wonder if you are missing the point when Jesus said that we are to be like little children. If you believe that we should be investing our time into the children and not the adults then what do we do with Jesus who trained the 12, the 70 and the 120. What do we do with the Jesus who preached to the multitudes. I wonder if Jesus was trying to encourage us to see through the eyes of a child. To have an open mind to learn new things. To trust without reservation. To accept the word of God as it is rather than what we would like it to say, or even try to interpret what it says to fit our needs and wants. The most formulative years in the life of a child in developing thier concept of God is between the ages of 5 & 8. There are elements that I don’t want to have in my Christian Walk that exists in children. Selfishness, yet given the right training and role modeling, children can be wonderful examples of giving. Do we see our children as a burden and inconvenience, someones that we have to tolerate and endure, or do we see our children as opportunities that we have the privlege of investing in. For the most part, our children are a reflection of ourselves, especially of thier parents. Maybe the established church understands the need to provide for thier children good solid teaching that is at thier level and so they invest into the lives of those adults who have a burden for children to give them the tools they need to teach. One of the biggest influences in my life was my Sunday School teacher when I was going to Temple Baptist Church. I can’t say that I remember her lessons, but I remember her and her love for the Lord and the fact that she was there for me and others faithfully. When I graduated Bible College and started in the ministry, I went back to the church to find her and thank her. It wasn’t just what she said, but who she was. Her faith was a part of her everyday life.
I wonder how much of our frustration with children and how to minister to them most effectively has to do with our own shortcomings as parents and adults. As you’ve said, it’s not about me, but about Him and how we can serve him more faithfully with the gifts and talents He has given.
Food for thought.

]]> By: nathan colquhoun http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2007/09/18/church-where-children-fit#comment-1744 nathan colquhoun Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1744 Hey DVV<br /> Thanks for the comment.<br /> I want to be sure that people aren't getting the impression that I'm saying training and pouring into adults isn't important, I think it is. I think where my question lies is wondering if it should be important at the expense of kids.<br /> <br /> What I'm hoping to do is bring on an even balance here where kids are seen as important as adults and vice versa, instead of raising one up over the other. I think that's exactly what Jesus was doing, he was siding on the marginalized constantly because by doing that he was leveling the playing field in exclaiming that children will inherit the kingdom of God. He's not saying adults won't.<br /> <br /> You said "I wonder how much of our frustration with children and how to minister to them most effectively has to do with our own shortcomings as parents and adults." and I can't help but agree. <br /> <br /> So really I think that these posts are probably fueled from a history of watching children be treated like second class citizens until they are old enough to experience 'real church' and now i'm trying to come to grips with what it would look like if we put them at the same level as us. Hey DVV
Thanks for the comment.
I want to be sure that people aren’t getting the impression that I’m saying training and pouring into adults isn’t important, I think it is. I think where my question lies is wondering if it should be important at the expense of kids.

What I’m hoping to do is bring on an even balance here where kids are seen as important as adults and vice versa, instead of raising one up over the other. I think that’s exactly what Jesus was doing, he was siding on the marginalized constantly because by doing that he was leveling the playing field in exclaiming that children will inherit the kingdom of God. He’s not saying adults won’t.

You said “I wonder how much of our frustration with children and how to minister to them most effectively has to do with our own shortcomings as parents and adults.” and I can’t help but agree.

So really I think that these posts are probably fueled from a history of watching children be treated like second class citizens until they are old enough to experience ‘real church’ and now i’m trying to come to grips with what it would look like if we put them at the same level as us.

]]> By: nathan colquhoun http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2007/09/18/church-where-children-fit#comment-1745 nathan colquhoun Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1745 690 690

]]> By: elnellis http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2007/09/18/church-where-children-fit#comment-1746 elnellis Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1746 hey nathan,<br /> just wanted to thank you for your thoughts on this. we had a mtg wed. night to discuss the same issue in our community. i printed off your two posts and read them to get our discussion going as you articulated well what we have been feeling as a church.<br /> thanks for putting it out there and struggling and dreaming for more.<br /> peace hey nathan,
just wanted to thank you for your thoughts on this. we had a mtg wed. night to discuss the same issue in our community. i printed off your two posts and read them to get our discussion going as you articulated well what we have been feeling as a church.
thanks for putting it out there and struggling and dreaming for more.
peace

]]> By: miranda http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2007/09/18/church-where-children-fit#comment-1748 miranda Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1748 love it nathan!<br /> <br /> I totally agree that we can learn SO much kids. I absolutely love my work with the kids. They teach me honesty, acceptance, wonder, love, forgiveness, laughter and appreciation for what we consider the "little things. They have nonjudgmental, open minds and bring me joy each day!!<br /> <br /> Look forward to hearing about your journey in meeting this balance because of course, there are adults out there with miles wonderful attributes and ideas to offer too! love it nathan!

I totally agree that we can learn SO much kids. I absolutely love my work with the kids. They teach me honesty, acceptance, wonder, love, forgiveness, laughter and appreciation for what we consider the “little things. They have nonjudgmental, open minds and bring me joy each day!!

Look forward to hearing about your journey in meeting this balance because of course, there are adults out there with miles wonderful attributes and ideas to offer too!

]]> By: jt http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2007/09/18/church-where-children-fit#comment-1749 jt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1749 hey nathan. this is good! i'm working as a youth pastor at a church and am having a hard time convincing the interim pastor that young people are just as important as fully developed adults. keep posting on this as you guys work through it!<br /> <br /> peace.<br /> <br /> jt hey nathan. this is good! i’m working as a youth pastor at a church and am having a hard time convincing the interim pastor that young people are just as important as fully developed adults. keep posting on this as you guys work through it!

peace.

jt

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