Children In Church

I am a firm believer in children being in church with their parents. It drives me crazy when I walk into a church and feel that my children are not welcomed in the sanctuary. I don't like it when I walk into a church and they are so eager to get my children into the nursery or children's church. I want our children to learn to sit in the service and listen. I want them to learn to hear what the preacher is saying. I want them when they are older to have a love of the Lord and a good foundation in the church. When we walk in a church and are informed about the nursery, I just politely turn it down. I think that when children are entertained during church, that many kids when they are too old to be entertained either lose interest in church or they tend to find a church that is more entertainment and less on the good old fashioned Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now don't get me wrong, I like Sunday School and Awanas, but on Sundays, children should be in church with their parents. Parents need to learn how to teach their little ones how to sit in church. And when the little ones are too small to understand, then it is nice when a church will provide a mother's room where you can still hear the sermon, but can tend to the little ones needs. I think that too many parents tend to rely on the nursery because they don't know how to teach their children to sit in church. I think that it's sad. I know that this is an opinion that not a lot of people will agree with me on, but think about it. Consider it. When you have your children in church with you, talk to them when church is over. Help them to understand what was being said. Help them learn the hymns at home. What a great blessing it is to be able to raise our little ones to love the Lord!