Forever Friends...

Every now and then, our church does this thing with our youngsters where the adults in charge of their Sunday school groups present the gospel message.

Little ones from kindergarden up are told how Christ loves them, how he died on the cross for their sins and how he rose again. They are invited to ask Jesus to be their "forever friend".

The following Sunday, the stage in the church sanctuary will be filled with roses. Each rose represents a child who prayed the sinners' prayer and became a follower of Christ. Proud parents flock to the service to hear their child's name read to the congregation.

I can understand a parent's joy in learning that their child has accepted Christ. I remember when my middle daughter told me had given her life to Jesus. I remember the radiant look upon her face and I remember how my soul soared for the new life she would discover as she walked through this world and the years to come with Christ by her side. I remember my joy watching her baptism. Those were days I shall never forget.

And yet, something in me rebels at the idea of our church manipulating our children to accept Christ. Something in me pulls back at the idea of canned "forever friend" presentations, roses, and podiums and public announcements naming little five year olds as having asked Jesus to be their "forever friend". I can't shake the idea that this is highly manipulative of our children's minds and hearts. It is hard for me to conscience.

Not long ago, we received a letter from our grade school ministry pastor (grades K-3) explaining that a special Sunday was being planned for our children with the express purpose of leading each child in asking Jesus to be their "forever friend". My husband and I opted to keep our youngest child home that week.

Before making this decision, I asked my seven year old daughter if she had ever asked Jesus to be her "forever friend". She answered me by asking, "What does that mean?" I explained that it means she knows Jesus is real, that she loves him and that she wants to share her life with him the same way she shares her life with her family and her friends.

Her reply?

"Oh, I already know all that. I've known Jesus since before I was born. I've loved him since forever."

Now I know for some, this is hardly a traditional confession of faith. It lacks the solemnity and the formality of praying the sinner's prayer. It slips by unannounced, unadorned, unnoticed except perhaps by God.

But I know for a fact that Jesus danced in celebration when he heard my daughter's declaration of love for him. I know, because this child and I have been dancing with Jesus since before she was even born. We dance with him still.

Maybe the church's way of leading little children to Christ is beneficial for many. Who am I to judge?

I just pray that each child represented by a rose on stage this Sunday morning either already knows, or will know, what it is like to twirl about with Jesus until they are both breathless with delight.

Make no mistake, there is an eternal dance of love shaking our cosmos. Can't you hear God's heart beat rocking the universe? I can! I can feel the very heavens shudder with God's own pounding rhythm of invitation to join the dance.

Can you feel it? Join the dance people!

......and this is precisely why I'm not teaching Sunday school.

There'd be chaos if I had 300 plus children out of their chairs and dancing with Jesus. Chaos.

Roses are safer....much, much safer.