So wrong it’s not even funny.
Pro Kids from Faith Promise Church on Vimeo.
Wow.
Anyone else see some serious flaws to this? Anyone else confused as to how their child has doomed someone to hell by waving at them during a church service?
Anyone else be outta that church so fast that man’s head would be spinning?
Wow.
My friend Sandy wrote about this over at The Daily Poop - check out her post. This was the comment I left there:
Holy. Crap.
I think you about summed up my thoughts on this ridiculous policy.
I think my favourite thing is that at the beginning of the clip, he said it was because the sanctuary (ummm … Holy? Whatever happened to the sanctuary being a holy place?) is a war zone. And from there it became - because it’s not relevant, because we’ve spent millions of dollars on other things for them, because they’re too distracting. Um, yeah. Is it because you’re concerned for their spiritual health (would you bring a baby into a warzone …) or because they’re irritating?
U.R.G.
I don’t think my keyboard can contain my venom
(Oh, and p.s. Pastor Chris? If the sanctuary isn’t a relevant environment, can you tell me how it’s healthy that a room off to the side with recliners and big-screen TVs IS??? Or is that part not the warzone?
I wanna hear your thoughts, my dear readers! Ready, set, GO!
Laura said,
February 26, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
Wow. I have rarely been so offended! I actually feel physically ill.
There was ONE THING in that video I liked - that there is a place for the kids to go, a preschool ministry that (according to this jackass) is well-funded and well-staffed. That’s wonderful!
Now, if kids really are tearing up and down the aisles, wreaking havoc and destruction, then obviously something needs to be done. But kicking kids out is NOT the answer. It shouldn’t be up to the church to decide who can and cannot attend: It’s up to the parents. They can (and should) be the ones to decide how to approach the situation: to either teach their children how to behave appropriately in church, or remove them to a more child-oriented environment. Whichever is appropriate to the child’s stage and abilities.
In my personal experience, the congregation is happy to see Gwen. She is well behaved, and if she isn’t I take her out to the narthex for a few minutes. She doesn’t distract from the service at all. And holy crap - GOD MADE HER. If there is any reminder to God’s people on earth as to His power and grace, isn’t it a healthy and beautiful baby?
What worries me is, where does this stop? If this pastor/church bans children from attending, what about the physically and mentally handicapped? What about the elderly? What about all the other socially marginal people who don’t quite fit in? Aren’t they distracting too? There is a man who comes to our church in women’s clothing - not trying to pass as a woman, but just likes to wear skirts. He wouldn’t belong, I suppose.
Also at my church is an elderly man who snores through the sermon. WAY more distracting than a baby, I tell you.
kim said,
February 27, 2009 @ 3:48 am
Thanks for your comments, Laura. I heartily agree - if babies and kids are unacceptable, what next? Women? *HUGE EYEROLL* I could not believe he said that babies in church = people going to hell. I … he … words fail me.
Russell Greenwood said,
March 2, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
!
I cannot explain what I want to write here - what an absolute load of garbage! “Give our ushers a break” - WTF?
I hope all the parents just left that church, it’s just absurd. I love when kids make a ruckus in church - bring it on… better than having no kids and no young people and no young families!
kim said,
March 2, 2009 @ 10:48 pm
YAY RUSSELL!!!! I was beginning to think you’d fallen off the planet, what with your non-existent blogging!! I’m glad you know you’re still out there reading
And yeah. A load of garbage is about the nicest way it can be put. Don’t you just love the flip-flopping from ‘your kids are sending people to hell’ to ‘give the ushers a break’? YUCK. This man makes me sick.