Is God Pleased with Our Children’s Ministry?

Ruled by shame, the Roman culture lived to please (satisfy, appease) the gods. Animal, financial and time sacrifices were given to the gods in return of a blessed earthly life. The god’s blessing was believed to come through the consistent hard work and adequate sacrifice from each follower. The Roman and Greek gods numerically exceeded any other religion as anything and anyone could be known as a god. Emperors to planets were worshipped as gods and images, which surrounded citizens in all areas of life such as the home, businesses and government buildings. Family, employment and government pressure became heavy to please the gods and avoid any shame. Are we Roman citizens working to temporarily please God in our children’s ministries?

Ruled by shame, the Roman culture lived to please (satisfy, appease) the gods. Animal, financial and time sacrifices were given to the gods in return of a blessed earthly life. The god’s blessing was believed to come through the consistent hard work and adequate sacrifice from each follower. The Roman and Greek gods numerically exceeded any other religion as anything and anyone could be known as a god. Emperors to planets were worshipped as gods and images, which surrounded citizens in all areas of life such as the home, businesses and government buildings. Family, employment and government pressure became heavy to please the gods and avoid any shame. Are we Roman citizens working to temporarily please God in our children’s ministries?

Mark distinguishes between a Roman citizen at work to please gods and one pleasing God (Mark 1:9-11). Jesus came from small town Nazareth to be baptized by a man soaked by the Jordan river with locust’s legs stuck in his teeth. God the Father sends God the Spirit on God the Son like a dove to specify the “Anointed One” (Christ or Messiah). “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” spoken by God the Father to Jesus (Mark 1:11). Any work completed in children’s ministry does not receive God’s pleasure apart from the person and work of Jesus the Christ.

Many times we act as if we are to be in Jesus’ place, trying to please God and appease our shame. Roman citizens would continually anoint images with sacrifices and daily digging their way out of shame to please the gods. God’s pleasure is on Jesus to remove our shame. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16a-b). We are to treat God differently than a fake Roman god. God’s pleasure lies on Jesus. Those believing in Jesus find God’s pleasure on them. Our children’s ministry receives God’s pleasure by belief in Jesus.

Lacking faith in Jesus to be the sole satisfying factor in our children’s ministries becomes like a stealth bomber flying undetected. Ministry problems appear revealing our shame. Our responses reflect what we have valued (faith in) and even what we have expected (hoped in). We may have set our expectations (hope in): (1) a schedule; (2) verbal commitments by fellow leaders and parents; (3) physical ability to complete a project; or (4) home life to be unaffected by trials. Also, we may have set our value (faith in): (1) children changing through rules; (2) another leader’s ability to lead the ministry; (3) our ability to self-motivate and keep on serving; or (4) the immediate change of parents to be perfect. The failure of our expectations and faith brings heavy, burdensome shame.

We are not to be ruled by shame or the unrealistic attempts to please God apart from faith in Jesus. Romans placed faith in their own work of sacrifices and hope in their own ability to please the gods. They lived their life according to this faith and hope. For Christians, our Children’s ministry is a work to be accomplished through faith in Jesus for the pleasure of God. Jesus completed the work that satisfies God, we are to believe and follow Jesus!

To be continued …

Further Reading:

The Trellis and the Vine

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This is part of the blog posts series from Missional Education on the gospel in children’s ministry.