What is the sound of a healthy congregation? A Sanctuary that is filled with the melody of a pipe organ? Maybe for you it is better to hear the wale of an electric guitar in time with a kick drum? Maybe, the measure of a healthy church is both?! Because then you have multiple services and are reaching more people. Maybe it’s a large crowd raising a praise to the LORD? 

 

The sound of a healthy congregation is a cry. The cry of a baby who has but one recourse for what they are feeling: an explosive outburst. 

 

The reason for this is because a congregation must always, ALWAYS, be reaching the next generation. This is Christ’s command (Matthew 28:19). And so, if a congregation has a little one exploding in the way the littlest ones do, there is a congregation who is hosting the next generation. 

 

What is more, that sound can be off-putting. If you are trying to hear what the pastor is saying and a child next to you erupts with a cry, let’s face it, it is hard to focus. But here's the secret sauce: the church is full of imperfect people. The littlest among us are no exception. We should be able to endure the short coming of all people in Church. In fact, that’s one of the problems with the Church (if there is an actual problem). That is, the Church is full of selfish, inconsiderate people. Now, not all of us are so evil but ask around. I bet you will find more than one person who has “church-hurt.” Church-hurt is when a person in a congregation is hurt by another of that same congregation. And, rather than doing as Jesus said in Matt 18, the problem festers and that person leaves the congregation. Hopefully they just leave that congregation and not the Church. But it does happen that ones’ experience in a particular congregation can lead to that person leaving behind Jesus altogether. That is the literal worst.

 

Parents who have children who cry can feel as if they are being inconsiderate. I would tell you it is we, who are without children crying, who must go out of our way to create a welcoming environment for these parents and their experience. We must remind them that a crying child is not a problem; they are a blessing. That a baby crying is as natural as breathing. 

 

We would all agree that that family, parents and children, are members and should be in our congregation. But are we living that out? It has to be lived out. As the parent is dealing with a child all they can think is whatever the needs of that child are and, some variation of “this is making a scene. I need to get it under control.” 

 

If you see a parent in such a situation, go out of your way to reassure them that there is no problem. Smile at them as they are run-walking to the doors. Reach out after worship to confirm for them that there is nothing wrong (and in fact something very good) about a little one crying. And, if the situation presents itself, help. Sit with some older children who may be left in the pew alone. 

 

Practicing our faith takes many forms. I happen to think this is one of the most important ones for our spiritual growth as well as that of the families of our church.