Bulletin Articles: Full Article for Record Number 1053
Classes During Worship
by Larry Ray Hafley
Larry, although the brethren here...are good people, they either come from liberal backgrounds or are not all that knowledgeable. Last weekend I was out of town. This morning I called one of our members to see how things went last Sunday. He informed me that last Sunday evening the wife of one of our new couples who also come from a very liberal background, took two pre schoolers in the back room for a class during the regular worship services. Although I’m sure that the mothers welcomed a break from not being distracted while caring for their little ones, I see not only a serious danger with that but something as unscriptural in my view. Therefore, I plan to discuss it with the men right away. I appreciate this sister’s desire and ability to teach little ones but I also believe that it should be done while other Bible classes are being conducted and NOT during the worship services. I solicit your suggestions.
Reply: You are right on the mark in your assessment on this issue. It would be good to speak to the lady who took the children aside.
1 Corinthians 14 mentions the time when the "whole church" comes together "into one place" (v. 23). If a sister may take some little ones, could another take some in the first through the third grades? Could another take some pre teens, and someone else take the teens apart while the adults worship? It matters not that the church there is not large enough for such a consideration. The point is, could they do so if it were large enough? If the one group, why not another? What becomes of the specified, scriptural worship and instruction of those adults tending to the children? What excuses them from participating in what the Lord said to do?
Consider that preaching is part of what disciples heard when they came together on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Now, if a sister in Christ can take children away during preaching, can she do so while praises are being sung to the Lord for the purposes outlined in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 (Cf. Heb. 2:12 can one take the children when she should be in the midst of the church)? If a sister can take children away during preaching and singing, can she do the same when the Lord’s supper is being served? Why the one and not the other?
I shall pray that God will grant you the spirit of Matthew 10:16 as you deal with these brethren. Take care. Larry
