- - Eyes2Jesus - -

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:2 NIV 2011
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. -Eph. 6:12 NIV 2011
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Children's Church - Is it Scriptural?

NOTE: The title of this article has the words "children's church" in it, but this article isn't just about that. This article includes children's Sunday school, Sunday and Wednesday evening church Bible studies, and all other church youth events. My children are with my husband and I during Sunday school, church, Sunday and Wednesday evening church, and ALL church events. We don't use church for socialization. For that, we utilize playdates, the neighborhood kids, parks, get togethers, and visiting friends, etc. Why does my family have this stance? This article will explain it.

What does God's Word say? ...

"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children." -Deuteronomy 4:9-10

Whose job is it to teach my children? According to the Bible, it's my job.

"And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." -Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Whose job is it to teach their children about the things of God? It's the parent's job.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6

It's the parent's job to train and teach their children; not the church's. When Judah would gather before the Lord, did the parents first drop their children off in nursery, or Children's Church? No:

"And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children." -2 Chronicles 20:13

When Judah gathered before the Lord to hear the Scriptures read, were the children dropped off in nursery or Children's Church? No:

"And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD." -2 Kings 23:2

Where were the children? Were they age-segregated off to different rooms or areas? No:

"When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. Gather the people together, men and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it." -Deuteronomy 31:11-13

In the above Scripture, it was commanded that the children be with their parents when they gathered together to worship the Lord, and to study His Word. There are so many times in both the Old and New Testaments, where Scriptures were read aloud, and church services were held. Where were the children? They were with their families, as part of the congregation.

"I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren." - 1 Thessalonians 5:27

Where were the children when the Epistles and Scriptures were read aloud to "all the holy brethren?" As per Deuteronomy 31:11-13, they were right there in the congregation with everyone else.

"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." -Mark 10:15

Yet, there is an incorrect premise, which states that children are not able to pay attention to God's Word, unless visual and audio stimulation is involved. There is the misconception that a child cannot sit in church with his parents and understand much of what is being said. There is a misconception that children don't wish to be in church. These misconceptions are taught to children, via others believing this incorrect premise, and treating the children accordingly.

Yet, Mark 10:15 says that "whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." Adults and children are to be in church together, as part of the congregation. If we think children won't sit well in church, they most likely will live down to that expectation. If we expect them to sit still and behave in church, with just a little bit of training, they will live up to that expectation instead.


"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6

Are we training our children to have respect for the things of God, or are we showing them that we don't believe that they are able to seek the Lord with their parents, and therefore must be age-segregated away from the congregation?

Did you know:


"Statistics clearly support that when parents disciple their own children, an overwhelming majority of those children remain in the faith after leaving home. However, when that job is delegated to the church staff, a similarly overwhelming majority leave the faith."

The above is an excerpt from the article called "Family Integration," at http://gracefamilyinfo.org/

"Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet." -Joel 2:16

Who are gathered? The people, AND children, AND nursing babies. Worshipping the Lord, and gathering together in His name to study His Word is a family event. Families sit down together to eat dinner. Shouldn't they also partake of spiritual meat together?

Gathering together with the congregation is a special time, and I wish to spend that special time with those I love.


"And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children." -Matthew 14:15-21

The multitude followed Jesus, and He taught them. The time drew late, and they needed to eat, and food was provided. Where were the children during all of this? According to verse 21, they were there with the congregation.

Where did Jesus say that children should be? When Jesus was teaching, the disciples tried to segregate the children, but Jesus wished otherwise:


"And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer {allow} little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." -Luke 18:15-16

Here is another New Testament Scripture, which shows that the children were not age segregated away, but were with their parents:

"And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed." -Acts 21:5

Some people put their children in Church youth programs so that they can socialize. Church is not for socializing, and shouldn't be viewed for such purposes. Church is a place for believers to gather in fellowship to worship, praise, and learn about the Creator. Children can socialize at potlucks, parks, play dates, visiting friends after church services are over, etc.

Kids are like sponges. They soak up the environment around them, including what is being said and taught. My children have amazed me on many occasions, by bringing up the topic of certain sermons or Bible studies from church. They listen to what is being taught.

Their minds have not been spoiled via loud music and flashy videos or puppets and such. Entertainment education carries the danger of driving the developing brain to take the path of passive learning, as opposed to active learning. When a child is trained to be a passive learner, they will need to be spoon-fed education, in the most entertaining way possible.

When a child has been brought up to be an active learner, then they are taught to seek out information for themselves, and to soak up information from the written and spoken word, with no sparkles and entertaining extras required.

Furthermore, most church youth programs follow the same, or similar educational model as public schools do, via the Dewey education system. The Dewey educational model goes against natural brain development. Its very systems and theories originated, and were designed, because of Darwinian evolution. Before Dewey, all schools followed the Trivium, or Classical Education approach, which is the natural way of education, which works perfectly with the developing brain.

By educating children via the Dewey method (the method used by most public schools and church youth programs) combined with entertainment education, the developing brain can be altered, in which the child not only learns passively, instead of actively, but also can lead a child to having an "entertain me" view of life, instead of a "how can I be a blessing to others" type of life.

I believe that it is biblical for children to be with their parents during church. Further, I believe that children's ministries, like public school, can be detrimental to a child's development, and can be a blockade in both their spiritual and academic development.

While I don't judge or look down on those who choose to utilize these programs, I choose not to utilize them, and I believe the Bible to clearly back me on this issue.


Build Your Foundation on the Rock of Salvation

"It’s like a person building a house by digging deep and laying the foundation on bedrock. When the flood came, the rising water smashed against that house, but the water couldn’t shake the house because it was well built. 49 But those who don’t put into practice what they hear are like a person who built a house without a foundation. The floodwater smashed against it and it collapsed instantly. It was completely destroyed." -Luke 6:48-49 CEB

"The Lord lives! Bless God, my rock! Let my God, the rock of my salvation, be lifted high!" -2 Samuel 22:47 CEB

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." -John 8:32 CEB

"Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -John 14:6 CEB

The terms "Christian" and "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" have been thrown around so much, that for many people, they have lost their original savor. What is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Is it going to church? Is it being a "good person?" Is it via doing certain rituals, or following certain traditions? No, it is so much simpler than that.

Jesus says:

"Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me." -Revelation 3:20 CEB

Let Jesus into your heart and life. Put your faith and trust in Him, and in Him alone.

Why did Jesus Christ come to this earth? He came to pay for our sins. Have you ever broken any of the Ten Commandments? Did you know that Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount that just looking at someone with lust in your heart is the same thing as committing adultery in your heart?

Many people will say I'm a good person. Sure, I've stolen a few paper clips in my time, and I've told some lies, but I've never killed anyone, so I'm good enough for heaven. Don't be so sure. Have you ever felt hatred toward someone? If so, then you are guilty of committing murder in your heart:

"Everyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that murderers don’t have eternal life residing in them." -1 John 3:15 CEB

If you have stolen, lied, lusted after someone, hated someone, loved someone or something more than God, etc., then you have broken at least 5 of the Ten Commandments. Do you really think you'd make it to heaven? Not according to God's Word:

"Don’t you know that people who are unjust won’t inherit God’s kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Those who are sexually immoral, those who worship false gods, adulterers, both participants in same-sex intercourse, thieves, the greedy, drunks, abusive people, and swindlers won’t inherit God’s kingdom." -1 Corinthians 6:9-10 CEB

But there is good news:

"That is what some of you used to be! But you were washed clean, you were made holy to God, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." -1 Corinthians 6:11 CEB

We are all sinners:

"All have sinned and fall short of God’s glory" -Romans 3:23 CEB

Even Mary, the woman chosen by God to be a vessel that would carry Jesus in her womb, was a sinner, and in need of a Savior:

"In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior." - Mary said this in Luke 1:47 (CEB). Only sinners need a Savior, and Mary also accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior.

We are all imperfect, fallible sinners:

"This is the message that we have heard from him and announce to you: “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” If we claim, “We have fellowship with him,” and live in the darkness, we are lying and do not act truthfully. But if we live in the light in the same way as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we claim, “We don’t have any sin,” we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." -1 John 1:5-8 CEB

The blood of Jesus Christ is what cleanses us from all sins. Jesus came to this earth to die to pay for our sins. You see, Leviticus tells us that 'the life is in the blood,' and that it takes spilt blood to atone for sin.

When we choose to truly believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and to live our lives for Christ, then Christ's spilt blood cleanses us from our sins:

"Come now, and let’s settle this, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be white as snow. If they are red as crimson, they will become like wool." -Isaiah 1:18 CEB

Jesus tells us this:

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won’t perish but will have eternal life. God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son." - Jesus said this, in John 3:16-18 (CEB)

Paul gives us a simple "step by step process" on how to be saved:

"Because if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and in your heart you have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation. The scripture says, All who have faith in him won’t be put to shame." -Romans 10:9-11 CEB

Jesus is our one and only mediator:

"There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the human Christ Jesus" -1 Timothy 2:5 CEB

Jesus is our High Priest:

"Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son; because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin." -Hebrews 4:14-15 CEB

We are to follow the Lord and the Bible, not traditions of people:

"Jesus replied, “Why do you break the command of God by keeping the rules handed down to you?" -Matthew 15:3 CEB

Jesus is God:

"Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory." -1 Timothy 3:16 CEB

If Jesus isn't the Lord of your life, then I hope that you will let Him into your heart and life this very moment.

"But God shows his love for us, because while we were still sinners Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8 CEB

Have you built your foundation on the Rock of Salvation?

Jesus is the way. If you would like to receive Jesus into your heart and life, then let Him know. Pray to the Lord, telling Him that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and that you believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the death penalty for your sins. Tell this to God in your own words, from your heart.

"The wages that sin pays are death, but God’s gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23 CEB

Believe, and Receive:

"You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ." -Ephesians 1:13 CEB

When you believe on Jesus Christ, you receive the Holy Spirit. You are sealed as a child of God.

If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior, and you believe that Jesus died on the cross in your place, to pay the death penalty for your sins, and that Christ rose from the dead three days later, and you are ready to let Him lead your life, and you will live for Him, then you are saved, and born again.

You are now a saved Child of God, with the Holy Spirit living within you. Dedicate your life to the Lord, and live for Him. Please get a Bible (I suggest the Common English Bible - CEB) and turn to the Gospel of John. That is the fourth book in the New Testament. If you don't have a Bible, then you can read it for free, online - here.

After you've read the Gospel of John, go on to read Acts, and then Romans. These three books will bring you through the Gospel, the early church, and basic Christian doctrine. After you've read these three, then turn to the beginning of the New Testament, and read it all the way through. After that, read both the Old and New Testaments.

You should also follow the Lord and get baptized in water. A Believer's Baptism doesn't save you. Only faith in Christ saves you. A Believer's Baptism is an outward showing of your salvation. It symbolizes you being born again. When you are lowered under the water, it shows you dying to your old self, and when you are raised up out of the water, it symbolizes you being born again, as a new creature in Christ. This is called a Believer's Baptism, because, according to the Bible, a person is supposed to get baptized after they have believed on Christ. Anyone who was "baptized" before having faith in Christ just got wet - nothing more. You don't need to find a church to get baptized in. Any born again Christian can baptize you in any acceptable body of water - even a public swimming pool.

Find a good, local church congregation to attend. Search in your area for a Nazarene church, Foursquare church, or non-denominational Full-Gospel church.

Immerse yourself in the Bible. The Bible is God's love letter to you. It is also your Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

2024+ Reading List

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Unveiling Paul's Women

The List:

The Making of Biblical Womanhood

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause

The Bible vs. Biblical Womanhood

Unveiling Paul's Women

The Unfettered Word

Textual Criticism of the Bible

The Great Sex Rescue

Tell Her Story

Reverse Time Travel

A Quantum Case for God

Hidden in Plain Sight 3

The Lost Realms

When Time Began

Giants on the Earth

Cosmic Code

The Revelation Explained

Enquire Within Upon Everything

The End of Days

Frankenstein

When Angels Fell

The Einstein Theory of Relativity

Following the Equator

Why Does he do That?

The Witness of the Stars

Charlotte Bronte and her Circle

The Five Giants

The Mysteries of Udolpho

Tales of Giants from Brazil

A Little Bit of Everything for Dummies

The Giants from Outer Space

Essential Oils: Natural Remedies for Your Family

The Giant's Robe

The Art of War

The Giant of the North Pokings Around the Pole

Nikola Tesla: Imagination and the Man That Invented the 20th Century

The Secret of the Island

Cleopatra

The Beautiful and Damned

Experiments With Alternate Currents Of High Potential And High Frequency

Hide in Plain Sight

The Symbolism of Freemasonry

The Chimes

The Cricket on the Hearth

Dred: A Tale of the Great Dismal Swamp

Number in Scripture

The Island of Doctor Moreau

Martin Chuzzlewit

The Mysterious Island

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Nicholas Nickleby

Bleak House

The Old Curiosity Shop

Our Mutual Friend

Pink and White Tyranny

Crime and Punishment

The Secret

Twelve Stories and a Dream

The Uncommercial Traveller

Master Zacharius

The World Set Free

A Drama in the Air