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 I
was standing at the church door, dutifully shaking hands and
passing pleasantries with the departing congregation, when this
young man paused and thanked me for the sermon. His mature,
gentlemanly manners prompted me to ask, “How old are you Son?”
To which he replied, “Six years old, and I’m a-feeling it
too.” Yes, he was!!
Remembering
my own childhood days “at church” (arguing with my teacher
about a scripture I knew was “in there” but could not find)
I am sympathetic with youngsters who take an active interest,
even at my expense. Following a sermon on the conscience,
illustrated by a clumsily drawn steam governor, a young fellow
pointed at the chalk board and said with great seriousness, “Brother
Turner, I can’t believe the conscience looks like that!” To
tell the truth, I couldn’t believe it either.
But
not all youngsters are happy about going to “church”-- for
various reasons. One little boy became wedded to a T.V. Cowboy
show following the “preacher” dinner, and when time came to
leave he caused his mother some embarrassment. Finally a pat on
the back, down low, got him started, but he was sobbing and
muttering to himself as we rode toward the building. I was
seated
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next to him, and had no difficulty in
getting the message. He was saying, “Well, it had better be
good, that’s all I say. It had better be good!!” What chance
has a preacher against competition like that?
There
are few compliments more prized by the preacher in the “know”
than the genuine, unprompted compliment of a child. It may not
measure depth, but it will tell you the difference in depth and
muddy water. If the message is clear enough for the youngsters
to “get it,” and interesting enough to make them want it,
you have a reasonable chance of reaching a few adults as well.
But when you cut the children out you are cutting off a large
portion of your hearers. Adults may not squirm as much, but
politeness hides many wandering minds.
The
open-faced honesty of children is so refreshing and delightful,
even when one must question some of their concepts. When one
little boy was told it was time for “church” he whined, “Do
we have to go again?” Then, before his mother could correct
him, he brightened up saying, “Oh, I forgot! I told God I’d
go every night if He would heal my cat!”
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