I remember attending worship one Sunday when I was a teenager. A baby was crying in his mother’s arms. The preacher stopped his sermon and asked the mother to please take the baby to the nursery. I still remember that incident after all these years.
So what about babies in church? We offer a really nice nursery at First Methodist during times of worship. It even has a paging system if parents need to be called. But it’s the decision of the parents about what to do.
Here is what I believe. If a parent chooses to use the nursery, wonderful. Perhaps it can make their hour of worship a little more comfortable. If the parent chooses to keep the child during worship, God bless them.
Personally, I am thankful to have babies in church. I really am. You know, a mausoleum is a very quiet and still place. Too many of our churches have become like mausoleums. To see babies and children in worship is a sign of life. It is a sign of hope and the future.
I will take the occasional crying and restlessness of a child any day over a dead and lifeless mausoleum. Just my opinion. But maybe, maybe I am in good company. After all, Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, for of such is the kingdom of God.”