As I dressed for church yesterday, I perused my clothing choices. I desired to look my best as I entered a place of worship. That’s when my mind wandered back to other churches I’ve attended or known about. My childhood church was way too strict in many ways, but we were taught respect for God’s house. Families wore their nicest clothes, even though some were farmers and didn’t have anything dressy. The children were quiet and polite.
I’ve visited Amish country and listened to their stories. They meet in barns. Their services are three hours long, and they sit on long benches. Yet the respect for God’s house is there. The children understand that and sit quietly.
My experiences in the past few years as I’ve been in various church services have burdened my heart. It seems reverence for the things of God has been removed. Anything goes when it comes to clothes. And the children…oh the children…run and scream through the assemblage before and after the service. I know there are exceptions to those disturbances due to mental health issues, but in general those children do not respect a place set apart to worship God.
One time I drove to a church to pick up my granddaughter after the children’s meeting. Utter chaos met me as I stepped inside the door to the foyer. Through the doors to the sanctuary, I could see kids jumping from pew to pew. The hallway was packed with children rushing by, shoving and yelling as they went. The leader of the group was standing calmly by the wall, waving as they passed. That was the last time my granddaughter attended that meeting.
In this world of noise and movement, I believe there needs to be an oasis for our souls…and that includes children. It seems God’s house (whatever is set aside as a place to worship) should be the epitome of reverence.
“Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:30 (NIV)
