Won't you be my neighbor?

The other day through the wonders of online streaming video, I had the opportunity to introduce my boys to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.  They didn't quite get it, I don't think, but I got to reminisce a bit watching this show from my childhood.  And of course it helps knowing that Fred Rogers was truly an exceptional man.  He was a Presbyterian minister and spent over 30 years treating America's kids as neighbors, teaching them values, and show them how to use their imagination. 

What struck me as I watched the show again, was how Mister Rogers invited you right into his "house" while singing the famous song and changing his suit jacket to a sweater and dress shoes for casual ones.  I wonder how often I even treat my own kids with that kind of warmth as soon as I walk in the door after work, let alone random kids and neighbors.  Mister Rogers knew hospitality.

But I think - and I can only guess - that when Mister Rogers' show began in 1968, a neighborhood meant something.  Being a "neighbor" was a term of endearment that meant that you were friendly and welcome.  Neighbors helped look after each other; keeping an eye out for your house when you were gone, making sure your kids weren't getting into trouble, and sharing a cup of sugar when you ran out.  At least that's the stereotype that I imagine when I think of neighbors before my generation. 

Someone noted at a recent MCLE (Missional Church Learning Experience) gathering that people used to sit out in their rocking chairs on the front porch engaging with their neighbors.  Now we build 6 foot high privacy fences and back decks so we can sit outside and talk to no one.  It's unfortunate that we've lost the ability to be neighbors.

We're trying to change that at First Baptist Church of Mt. Pleasant.  In June, we had 6 "hosts" reach out to their neighbors with an invitation to relationship in exciting ways.  Five of those hosts invited their neighbors to block parties at their homes, hosting food and conversation for neighbors The results were amazing, as each party had many guests and created opportunities to get to know neighbors like never before.  Personally, I felt like we just gained a neighborhood after eight years of living in this house.  Who knew we were surrounded by such kind and fun people?  The other "host" instead baked pies and delivered them to her neighbors as a gift.  Again, this was well received by those in her neighborhood.

And here's the fun part.  A few days ago, while outside spraying for weeds, one of my new neighbor friends yelled over from across the street.  We met in the middle and chatted for a few minutes and again, I was reminded that this is what a neighborhood is.  And this is what Jesus commands us to do; to "love your neighbor as yourself". 

Doing this also reminds us that we are not a church by showing up for an hour a week to worship together.  Yes, that's important, but we are God's church when we follow His commands.  As Rev. Glynis LaBarre said, "Jesus did not die to save your church.  He didn't even die to save THE Church.  The Church exists to carry out His mission."  When we get outside our building and live among and love our neighbors, we begin to be who God has made us to be.

I get excited when I imagine a church of people living in Mount Pleasant, the surrounding countryside, and neighboring communities as far as Fairfield and Waterloo living out a love for their neighbors.  Imagine the reach that the Kingdom has if we go and love our neighbors and live as witnesses to the grace and peace that comes from a relationship with Jesus.

Lord, build Your Kingdom here,

Regan

Team Umizoomi, ready for Baptism

My 3 year old son, Hayden, loves Team Umizoomi!  I mean, loves that show.  Whenever he wakes up in the morning or from his nap, his request is well known by all around.  Turn on Team Umizoomi.  Hayden can also answer questions about Jesus like a champ.  If you ask where Jesus lives, he'll answer confidently, "In my heart."  If you ask who made the grass, world, or us; he'll answer, "Jesus" or "God" without skipping a beat.

So shouldn't he be baptized?  Has he "asked Jesus into his heart", "prayed a prayer of salvation" or "gotten saved"?  NO!  He's three.

I read an article recently on Christianity Today stating that in the Southern Baptist Convention, baptisms are dropping off at a record level for all but preschool aged kids.  You can read the article here.  This is alarming to me.  I'm not that worried about Southern Baptist general baptisms, but I am concerned about the growing practice of baptizing children before they're capable of making a commitment for Christ.

Is this weird coming from the guy who just wrote a post about allowing children to join us in Communion?  Maybe.  But as a Baptist, I see baptism as a profession of our faith that represents a lifelong commitment to Christ, and I'm not sure that's something a preschooler can make.  (Communion, on the other hand, is a practice of the presence of Christ and He consistently called children to Himself while on earth.)

According to Piaget's stages of brain development, children don't have the ability to think  concretely until ages 7-12 and don't usually begin to develop the capacity for abstract thinking until around age 12.  Many are still developing abstract thinking well into their 20's.  I don't know about you, but being able to understand cognitively that there is an invisible God who created the universe, is Trinitarian, and sent Himself/His Son to earth to die on the cross as atonement for our sins and raise from the dead requires a bit of abstract understanding.  

And it makes me wonder if the reason we're losing our young people as they acquire the ability to think abstractly and are challenged by the world, is because we push them to make commitments they can't cognitively make when they're younger.  So they abandon what they were taught because it all seems like it was forced, and now they are trying to come to terms with it all.

The truth in my family is that all three of my boys could answer the questions right; especially if I asked the questions in the right way.  My 5 and 7 year olds could even tell you that they love Jesus and know He is an important part of their lives.  But that's because we have taught them those things.  And on their level, they really do believe them.  (Of course, they believe in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and that they can be super heroes when they grow up too.)

So be careful, parents, pastors, Sunday School teachers.  The only good you are doing by pushing your child to "get saved" and be baptized at an early age is to make yourself feel better.  But are you willing to do that at the expense of a real commitment?  I'm not.  I'm not, because I get to walk with teenagers and adults as they actually go through this struggle to faith on their own and see that true commitment is worth waiting for.

What do you think?

Is it time to rethink how we treat kids and Communion?

Let's get this out of the way; I'm an American Baptist and have been my whole life.  I recognize my thinking is going to be out of traditional ABC church practice, and definitely outside other church traditions.  So just know where I'm coming from.

I think it's time to let children join us in Communion (or Lord's Supper, or Eucharist, or The Table).  

Growing up in ABC/USA churches, I learned that Communion was an ordinance of the church that we began to partake of after our baptism.  There were a few exceptions like Christmas Eve or Maundy Thursday, when I got to take the elements with my family, but otherwise I waited till after my baptism at 8 years old.  It was only then that I was ready to understand and take the bread and juice that represent Jesus' body and blood.

And I get it.  I do.  After all, 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 says, "So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.  Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.  For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves."  So we make sure that we take seriously the taking of Communion and keep children from it until they can take it seriously.  (Though our 'age of accountability' is open for interpretation and many still may not be able to grasp its seriousness after baptism.)

But I've been challenged to understand Communion differently lately and it's affecting much of how I've been practicing it.  I've always struggled with Communion because I didn't really understand it.  As Baptists, we tend to see the bread and juice as symbols of the body and blood of Jesus, and let it simply serve as that tangible reminder of Jesus' sacrifice for us.  But I've been challenged by teachings by Dr. David Fitch from Northern Seminary and by conversations with other pastors - like my dad - that there is more happening at The Table.  As you read through the New Testament post resurrection, it seems that the "breaking of bread" brings more than remembrance; but the acknowledgment of the presence of Christ into the mix.

My favorite example happens right after the resurrection as Jesus walks the road toward Emmaus with two followers who don't recognize Him; even telling Him about His own death.  Even as Jesus unpacks the Scriptures, they don't know that it's Him.  But when they arrive at their destination and Jesus breaks bread with them, they realize that it is the risen Christ with them.  There must be something significant about eating together that allows Jesus' presence to be tangibly known.  

That brings me to the issue of children in worship.  I have three boys and we found pretty early on that Communion would be a challenge with our oldest when he started sitting with my wife in worship.  When the time came for bread and juice to be passed around, he didn't understand why he wasn't included.  My wife quickly came to the conclusion - out of a desire to eliminate distractions - that our 4 year old would receive it too.  (I know; sacrilege.)  And I agreed with her.  But each month on the first Sunday as we prepared to pass out the elements, she would talk with my son about the significance of the bread and juice.

As you can imagine, some didn't like it.  And we didn't really start this because of some deep theological understanding of Communion that differed from our congregation's traditions.  It was just a desire to not have the pastor's son cry loudly from the second pew during Communion.

But all that has changed.  This question of Communion and kids has reminded me of another passage of Scripture.  Matthew 19:13-14 says, "Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.  Jesus said,  'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" (emphasis mine.)

So if Communion is truly what the word means; a close intimate fellowship with another - namely Jesus - then we are in the same situation.  At The Table, our children could be exposed to the presence of Christ while we, like the disciples, tell them to "get away.  The presence of Jesus is no place for children."  

So maybe it's time to really rethink how we deal with this issue.  Are kids sometimes irreverent?  Yep.  Were they probably irreverent when they came to Jesus as the gospel stories tell?  Yep.  

And to be clear, the 1 Corinthians passage used to put kids off wasn't written to deal with children and Communion, but to adults who were refusing to reconcile their relationships or live in communion with one another.  Paul wasn't talking to children at all.  But we adults better be careful if we're to take seriously what he says in this passage.  I don't know about you, but I have some relationships to reconcile if I'm going to be right before The Table.

What do you think?  Am I totally off base?