Let The Little Children Come To Me

Introduction

It is a delightful blessing for us to have a child dedication service this morning, but why do we do it? We clearly understand that this is not the day of salvation for these children. As they grow up, they will come to understand that God sent Jesus to die for them and that Jesus was raised to give them life. God will draw them to Himself and when they respond in faith to the gospel that will be the day of their salvation.

It is also not the same as baptism. When children are baptized, there are several meanings to that depending on the faith tradition. In some cases it is considered a means of grace which has some significance towards salvation. In other cases, their baptism indicates that they are becoming members of the faith community which is followed up by confirmation when they are old enough to choose. We believe that baptism is something that is done after a person accepts Christ and is a sign of a person's faith in Jesus, a way of declaring that they belong to Jesus. The child dedication does not have any of these meanings, so what is the purpose of it?

That is what I would like to explain this morning. There are three groups for whom this ceremony has meaning - the children, the congregation and above all the parents. Even though we call it a child dedication, it is really more of a parent dedication and so I will speak mostly to the parents.

I.     Meaning For the Child

The meaning of this ceremony for the child is illustrated in each of the gospels when Jesus invited the children to come and blessed them. Let's take a look at Matthew 19:13-15 to see what it means.

In each of these stories, parents were bringing their children to Jesus. Carson says, "Children in Jesus’ day were often brought to rabbis and elders to be blessed, customarily by placing hands on them." In Matthew 19:13 it says that they wanted Jesus to "lay his hands on them and pray." What did they think laying on of hands would accomplish?

Meanwhile, the disciples were trying to prevent the children from being brought and even "spoke sternly" to those who were bringing them. As we read this, we wonder what their intent was? Why were they so against children coming to Jesus? Is it that they were trying to protect Jesus because He was so busy and they wanted him to have some space? Did they think that children were just children and had no value for the kingdom and didn't warrant attention?

Whatever the parents were expecting, whatever the disciples were thinking, Jesus instructs us by what He said and did.

Jesus welcomed the children. He said, "Let the little children come…"  The actions of Jesus indicate that He was not put off by children, He did not see them as "future persons." In that society children were not very highly valued. Carson says, that children at that time were "…negligible members of society: their place was to learn, to be respectful, to listen." They were not seen as persons until they reached a certain age. Even in our day we have heard the saying, "Children should be seen and not heard." But Jesus valued them as they were and was willing to have them come. If we follow the example of Jesus, I believe that when we have a child dedication, we are saying to the children, "Welcome! You belong! We value you and you are invited into the presence of Jesus." It is a way of affirming children and their value.

The value Jesus places on children is not only very high, but He says that children are examples. He says, "for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." Children are much more able to trust than adults. They have an acceptance of spiritual things because their minds have not been polluted by cynicism and doubts and their hearts have not been jaded by disappointments. They have a readiness to trust which is exemplary. So when we have child dedication, we are saying that we value their child-like faith.

            These texts also indicate that Jesus laid hands on them. Since the parents expected Jesus to pray for them and since Mark 10 tells us that he "blessed them" we can assume that all of these things happened. Jesus touched them with a blessing and put his hands on them when he prayed for them. Such a prayer or blessing is a way of asking God to enter into the life of the child with good things. I have prayed for God to bless a new home, I have prayed for God to bless a minister at an ordination and I have prayed for God to bless a new venture. In each of these cases, we are asking God for His goodness in the situation we are praying about. As we pray for the children, we are asking God's goodness to be active in their life. We are asking that He will extend His grace to them their whole life.

            So the meaning for the children is a statement of welcome a declaration of their value and a request for God's blessing on them.

II.  Meaning For the Parents

The major meaning of child dedication is for the parents and there are two levels of meaning for them.

A.   A Dedication of the Child to the Lord

            At one level, parents need to make a decision about whose child this is. We have seen the bad things that happen when parents think they own their children and try to manipulate them. On the other hand, we have also seen the terrible things that happen when children are neglected. Child dedication is a declaration that the child is a gift from God and belongs to God, but we are entrusted with the child's care.

            This meaning is illustrated so well in the story of Samuel's birth in I Samuel 1,2. Hannah, was unable to have children and one year when she was at the temple with her husband, she pleaded with God to give her a child. As a part of her prayer, she made a vow to God and said in I Samuel 1:11. “I will give him to the Lord.” When she made this statement, she was saying that she was dedicating the child to God. In her case, this meant that she was literally giving the child to God. After he was born, she nurtured Samuel until he was weaned and then she brought him to the temple and left him there as a servant of God. She continued to look after him by bringing him clothing as he grew up and she saw him at times, but after his first 2 or 3 years, she literally gave him to God. She was not sorrowful about this and I Samuel 2 demonstrates the joy she had in being a servant of God and even serving God by giving Him her son.

            Of course, Samuel's situation was unique. Her vow was unique and Samuel was an important and singular figure in Israelite history, but the example we have in this text is still one worth following. When our children are born, we need to say in our hearts, "this child is God's and I want what God wants for this child." Making such a statement may not have much impact when they are young and we are entrusted with their care and exercise our influence on them. But I have heard parents reflect on this when their children become missionaries and leave home and go to difficult places to minister for the Lord. I remember one mother whose children were on that journey and she told me that when they were young she had dedicated them to the Lord and so now she was also prepared to give them to the service of the Lord.

            Samuel's story is not the only story of presenting a child to the Lord. Jesus' parents did the same thing for him in Luke 2:22. For Mary it also meant giving Jesus up to the will of God.

            Child dedication is a significant statement of acknowledging God's ownership. While we take the responsibility to nurture and care for our children, we also make a statement of trust in the goodness, authority and sovereignty of God.

B.   A Commitment to Faith, Lifestyle and Teaching

When walking in fresh snow I have sometimes been intrigued by the footprints I am making, realizing that my boots leave an exact image of the tread in the snow.

When I was in grade 8, although I attended General Wolfe, we went to Sergeant Park for shops and one semester I took metal shops. I was fascinated when we made a mold in wet sand and then poured molten metal into the mold and it made an exact model of the impression we had left in the sand.

It is easy to make an impression of our boots in the snow or to create an impression with cast metal, but how do you make an impression on a child? How do you train up a child in the way he or she should go?

            Deuteronomy 6:6-9 declares that “God is one” and that He is to be loved. Then it says, “These things are to be upon your hearts.” Then we also read, “Impress them on your children” That gives us the pattern for training children in faith.

            We sometimes hope that Christian faith will be passed on to our children when they go to Sunday School or youth or camp. These things are good and lend a supporting role, but did you know that parents have the most powerful spiritual impact on their children of anyone? In Building Faith at Home, Mark Holman refers to a survey of junior high and high school students. They were asked who had the most significant religious influence in their life. The graph shows the percentage of those who were among the top 5 influencers. The graph was more extensive showing each grade and also the difference between male and female, but I chose just grades 7 and 12. In each case, parents are the most influential spiritually. After that there are a variety of influencers, but interestingly, and for all we have invested in them, youth group leaders are far down the list. This reinforces that as parents you have a powerful role to play and a critical task in shaping the spiritual life of your child.

                                    7^th Grade         Grade 12

Mother                                        87                            75

Father                              64                            51

Pastor                              60                            49

Grandparent                    36                            22

SS teacher                       29                            23

The Bible                        25                            26

Youth Group                   25                            34

Youth Leader                  13                            15

Friends                            22                            31

 

            Sometimes we think that the things we consciously and formally try to teach our children will lead them to God. This is our hope as we read the Bible to them or sit down and tell them the gospel story or listen to Christian music. These things are important and certainly lend a supporting role. I am firmly convinced, however, that the most powerful thing which will pass faith on to children is our own life. That is what I believe is the impact of Deuteronomy 6:6 when it says, "Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart." Whatever we are is what we will pass on to our children. The values they see us get passionate about, the lifestyle which we most naturally lead, the truths which are evident, not in a formal conscious way, but which are actually lived by us is what will have the most profound and lasting impact on our children. The Message translates Deuteronomy 6:6, “Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children.” How we do that is in the natural course of life, as Deuteronomy 6:7 says, “Talk about them when you sit at home when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” I believe that we will pass on to our children whatever they see lived in us, without formally thinking about it and without conscious effort. Mark Holman says, "Moses stated that we can 'live long and prosper' by impressing the biblical way of life on our children by living it out at home: 'When you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.'"

Of course that leaves us with some challenging questions, “What impression am I leaving on my children? Is it the impression I think I am leaving? What is really going on in my life, my heart? Am I imitable?” Merriam Webster defines imitable as, “capable or worthy of being imitated or copied.” In child dedication, you as parents are committing yourselves to being imitable.

Of course, there is also a formal opportunity to actually teach your children and that is also a part of what Deuteronomy 6:6-9 means. NASB translates this, “you shall teach them diligently to your sons.” So we should not only rely on what is passed on by what they see. We should make formal choices to read the Bible to them, to teach them Christian songs, to take them to Sunday School and camp. As you bring your children for dedication, you are also committing yourself to teaching your children.

            Earlier we talked about the dedication of Samuel to the Lord by Hannah. As we read that story we tend to focus on the covenant which Hannah made or on Samuel and how he turned out. We also need to notice the faithfulness of Elkanah and Hannah. In that day many Israelites took their faith rather casually, but Elkanah was faithful in going to the temple once a year. He lived some distance away, but made it a priority to go to meet with God. Samuel saw that and I am sure it had an impact on his faith in God.

C.   A Prayer for God's Guidance.

When we think about this task, we recognize that it is a huge challenge. How will we be able to live in an exemplary way? How will we be able to tread the balance between giving our children to the Lord and at the same time taking full responsibility to nurture them? That is why child dedication is also a prayer for God’s guidance. We pray for you and with you that God will help you make the best impression and teach your children well. We will pray for God's direction in your task.

III.           Meaning For the Congregation

            Child dedication has meaning for the children and for the parents, but it also has meaning for the rest of us and that is why we have this event in the worship service.

A.   A Commitment to an Exemplary Environment.

When what the parents are trying to teach their children is also modeled by the rest of the community of faith, it makes their responsibility much easier. Children see not only their parents living faith, but an entire faith community and that will have a powerful impact.

So as the parents bring their children for dedication, we, as the congregation, are also making a commitment today. We are promising to live in an exemplary way recognizing that we are being watched by the children. Like Jesus, may we welcome the children, value the children and be good models of faith to the children. May what we model be consistent, godly, compassionate and faithful.

B.   A Commitment to Support Both Parent and Child.

            The other reason we have child dedication as part of a worship service is that we as the surrounding community are making a commitment to support both parent and child. Besides living in an exemplary way, we also support the parents in the role by caring for them and encouraging them. Sometimes we will support them by helping them through a difficult time. We can also support the children. I still remember when Jonathan was baptized he was given a mentor and he maintained a relationship with Jonathan for many years and was an encouragement to him. Let us take an interest in the children and ask about their lives and so encourage and support them.

            Of course a major part of supporting and encouraging them is by praying both for the parents and the children on a regular basis. We will pray for them today, but the task of prayer continues into the future with all of us.

Conclusion

So we see that each person here, the children, the parents and the whole congregation has a part in this ceremony.

The children are being welcomed and blessed.

The congregation is making a commitment to being an exemplary community and to supporting and praying for the parents and the children.

The largest role lies with you as parents who dedicate your children to the Lord. You are committing yourselves to being examples, to training your children and by doing so committing yourselves to making a faith impression on your children. And so you are dedicating your children to the Lord.