Let Our Children Come and Maybe We Should Go With Them?

I made a huge mistake this week.My kids are natural evangelists.  Every Sunday it seems we have some new face going to church with us.  I could learn a few lessons from my kids?

This Sunday, my son wanted to take along two, how should I say it? Less than sociably acceptable boys?

These boys only shower once a week it seems and like to use profanity and talk about sex when they are out of earshot of parents. They have also been known to bully other kids especially the girls in the neighborhood. I have debated back and forth if I should even let my son play with these two but he is trying to be the light and example for them.

So when my son announced that these two were coming to church with us on Sunday, I immediately made a negative comment.  As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I was wrong.

My wife immediately confirmed this with a few comments to me.

We are new to this church and I immediately thought:

"What will people think?  "These kids will be disrespectful."

"What if they swear in class or disrespect the teacher?"

This is all the more reason these two boys need to be in church and to see the example of other Christians. 

In Luke 18:15-17, Jesus said

People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. ButJesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little childrencome to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs tosuch as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

I truly believe what Jesus was saying is that we need to shed all of our education, doctrine, prejudices and judgments and accept faith like a child.  With wonder, amazement and unconditional trust that a child gives to a parent.

I learned a lesson from my kids this week and I think we all need to take heed.