Frankly, it's theological convictions and obedience to Jesus that drives us, not personality types. In fact, I think it's comical Aimee and I do organic church at all. We're not naturally hospitable. We get nervous when people take drinks onto our carpeted areas. We get easily distracted when the children get their own food (spills). We get anxious when the children won't sit still. In short, I think we're pretty normal.

 

To get to the point, I must ask, So what's the deal? Why weren't the children a bother to Jesus? Undoubtedly they were noisy and jumpy, probably making messes and, yet, Jesus says, "Let the children come to me." Here's my educated guess; generally, Jesus didn't project any preconceived notions of what a perfect ministry day should look like onto what was presently before him. Instead, he let people be people, kids be kids - ministering to what was, not to what wasn't with an eye toward making the less-mature happy (in this case, the Disciples).

 

If it's one thing consumerism has taught me (in a bad way), it's this: things should look like how I want them to look. I often want my house a certain way, my car a certain way, my body a certain way, my marriage a certain way and, yes, my organic church experience a certain way. I want to do Acts 2:42-type stuff while the children stay quiet, drinks safely placed at least three feet from the carpet's edge.

 

So what, in fact, is the deal? Although order at gatherings of the ecclesia is a must (1 Cor 14), ministering to those directly in front of me is also a must. And if a portion of those directly in front of me are children, then I must gladly accommodate them. This, of course, implies at least two things: not only must I let go of my agenda, I must also let go of others' agendas (i.e., people pleasing), others' preconceived notions, just like Jesus did when his disciples rebuked those who tried to include the children.