Changing to be a Good, not Crazy Children’s Ministry?
Q: Have these been verbally thrown at you in ministry: (1) “He is out of his mind”; (2) “You are nuts”; (3) “Weirdo”; (4) “He is on the other spiritual team” or (5) “I think that crazy guy about to be mauled by the crowd is my brother”? A: If not, just wait. If never, repent. If so, welcome to Jesus’ team. Let the dry sarcastic humor bleed through these three profound answers, and also lead us to understand that being called crazy is different than actually being crazy (perception vs. reality). Therefore, is the goal of becoming gospel-centered children’s ministry to be crazy? Or even to be perceived as crazy? No.
Q: Have these been verbally thrown at you in ministry: (1) “He is out of his mind”; (2) “You are nuts”; (3) “Weirdo”; (4) “He is on the other spiritual team” or (5) “I think that crazy guy about to be mauled by the crowd is my brother”? A: If not, just wait. If never, repent. If so, welcome to Jesus’ team. Let the dry sarcastic humor bleed through these three profound answers, and also lead us to understand that being called crazy is different than actually being crazy (perception vs. reality). Therefore, is the goal of becoming gospel-centered children’s ministry to be crazy? Or even to be perceived as crazy? No.
The crowds following Jesus and the family housing Jesus interpreted him, his message and mission to be crazy (Mark 3:20-22). However, Jesus disproves the perception by validating who he is (Mark 3:23-30). Jesus’ mission is preaching the gospel to make disciples for the world to repent and believe in God (Mark 1:1, 15, 17, 38). In doing so, people observe and religious leaders respond by claiming Jesus’ power comes from Satan rather than the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). The leaders stupidity is repackaged and sent back to them through Jesus’ direct analogies. Why would a kingdom, house or even Satan try to oppose itself or himself? If Satan controlled Jesus, then Satan wouldn’t be trying to stop himself and destroy his own mission. Therefore, ascribing the Holy Spirit to be Satan is blasphemous and proves unbelief in Jesus – the unforgivable sin (Mark 3:28). That is good not crazy.
The reason for people claiming Jesus to be crazy is because it shook the foundation of their belief. Their belief inevitably was in themselves, their obedience, their appearance, their power, their associations, their abilities to control the world around them, their giving and not Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. When a person’s foundation is shaken to the breaking point, accusations are the only artillery left in their religious defense bag.
If our children’s ministry desired to be crazy for crazy sake, then we would allow the children to run the services, allow the spiked hair teenager to sing through his skateboard skills on stage and run our fingers through the chocolate pudding for painting time while licking them just previous to shaking new parent’s hands. Crazy? Yes, and also reveals how crazy I am for thinking of an analogy for being crazy! Nonetheless, church and specifically ministries to children are not for crazy sake, but Jesus’ sake.
Just as Jesus disabled the religious leaders intellectual arguments, destroyed the power of Satan, disarmed his own family’s perception through his own person and work, so should our children’s ministries. Veggie Tales is fun, Big Bird is colorful, Mr. Rogers is moral, flannel graphs are cheap and games fill the time; however, do our children walk away knowing Jesus beyond mere loving principles? Is their foundation being built on the God-man? One may think a four year old can’t handle more than a cartoon or a Chuck E. Cheese environment, but that is like saying a child can never can feed themselves breakfast. Train them how to eat spiritual food, present fun but editable-long lasting spiritual food and they will become strong in the gospel of Jesus and not morals, unbelief or rebellion – if the Lord wills (James 4:15). That is good!
To be continued …
Further Reading:
Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods
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This is part of the blog posts series from Missional Education on the gospel in children’s ministry.
