Let the Little Children Come
I was reading an article this evening that disturbed me. It is written about a church in PA that has created a Sunday school class specifically for special-needs children. At first glance, this doesn’t seem like a bad idea. In fact, you may see the idea as one that takes into consideration the needs of others. Give the child something they can do while mom and dad are able to worship without interruption. A few quotes from the article state:
“We have been finding that more and more families who have such a special child are not attending church because most churches do not have a program for them to attend”
Hmmm…
“Parents find themselves spending more time trying to redirect behavior,” “They are not really getting anything out of their weekly visit to church.”
To me this seems to be a problem of structure, not the child’s behavior. Why are we taking a child with special needs out of a situation that potentially would make us uncomfortable? And why did a whole different class need to be created for them? Were they not welcome in the typical Sunday School class? Why do parents of special needs children feel they cannot gather with believers?
Maybe the answers to these questions would be best left to the individual to decide. And honestly, this issue hits a bit close to home for me, as my child was asked to leave a Sunday School class because his behavior did not fit what was acceptable in the class. This left me feeling like the one place that I thought my child would be accepted was not a realistic desire on my part.
My thoughts are these: Give the child the love and compassion of Christ. Help him or her to feel accepted as a worthy member of the body of believers. If you have to change the structure, then do it. But don’t make the child feel that they are not welcome by separating them from their peers and the rest of the body. There is so much that a child with special needs can offer the church as a whole. They can encourage us to grow in ways that were not possible before. Don’t deny them or yourself the joy and the privilege of what God can do through them.
Read the article and let me know what you think……
Christy, thanks for sharing your thoughts and this article with us. It is definitely one to think about. I am not sure that secluding these children is the answer. I agree with you that We do need to accept them and love them and show our children that God made us to be individuals with different needs and talents. If everyone is in the same class, all the children would benefit. So many times we find ourselves turning away from those who are different rather than ministering to them. These people may have the right motives or not in training themselves to help these kids, I don’t know. I do know that the average churches are small and do not have the workers or capability to have a separate classes.
Blessings to you!
August 2nd, 2007 | #
Amy,
Thanks for your input! I don’t doubt that the members of this church and their leadership are thinking that what they are doing is right. I do believe their desire is to help meet a need. I just am coming from a totally different perspective as it pertains to how we tend to break up different groups of people within the church meeting. I’m not sure that is what we should be doing.
Thanks again for commenting! I value your thoughts
August 2nd, 2007 | #