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Posts tagged ‘Church issues’

Why Churches Must Address Noise Levels for Children

My daughter recently wrote about churches and the loudness of the music. If you have not read it, please do. Here is the link Why Churches Should Consider Noise Levels for Children with Noise sensitivity.

I am thankful for my daughter being as high functioning on the Autism spectrum as she is. I know that many other parents have it so much worse than I do. My heart goes out to all of the parents who are trying to figure out what to do. I don’t know why there is more people being diagnosed with autism. However, I am beginning to see it as a test for the churches, after my daughter showed me a verse in the Bible. Here is the verse.

  •  Matthew 18:5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

This is Jesus talking in the above verse. My daughter looks at things differently than I do. She said that to reject a child is the same thing as rejecting Jesus, because those who receive a child in the name of Jesus receives Jesus. Think about those words.

Then she pointed out that the public library is more sensitive than the church is to the needs of the children. So, the test is will the church receive children who are different? Failure to receive all children in the Name of Jesus is failure to receive Jesus.

I am not saying that children should not be taught as much as possible how to behave in church. I am saying that children should be loved, considered, cared for, and appropriate accommodations provided for.

Here are some examples of what a library system is doing.

Notice how accommodating the library is. Various items are being provided by the library to help the children. Unnecessary light and sound elements are being turned off. The library is normally a quiet place. They are going above and beyond by offering to turn off any additional sound elements. I am thankful that the library is offering this. I have not had to use this with my daughter, because the library is already quiet enough for her. Everyone on the spectrum has different issues. It is not a one size fits all kind of thing. I am grateful that the library is trying to do something. I hope and pray that the churches step up and try harder to communicate with the parents about what the needs are and how they can help and support. I do know that the number 1 thing that they can do is take it seriously when the people say that the music is too loud.

At the church we are currently attending, the music is loud. With earplugs my daughter is able to sit/ stand in the back. She is unable to go to the front of the church because of the music.

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Why Churches Should Consider Noise Levels for Children with Noise sensitivity

I think we should read this verse it says that God can us hear so why do some our church have screaming and boom boom for music? Why can’t some children go to church? {I am meaning the poor children that need ear plugs for go to the library}.

Kids who need ear plugs to go to the library can be referred to as having auditory overstimulation noise sensitivity. This condition can be caused by various factors, including ADHD, autism, or exposure to loud environments. If the library can realize they need to have time of day for these children, why can’t the church? So why can’t the church realize they need to turn the music down? Jesus says let the children come to me but if they can’t go to the library without ear plugs how’re they going to go to the church that have booming and screaming for music?

I, Bell, am autistic. The so-called music at the church for me is nothing but booming thunder and screaming. I like to sing to God but at church, I don’t sing at all. I just stand there and try to survive. It is hard to even think about anything. Sometimes it even gives me headaches. That is not right. It is hindering me from worshiping God. That is the same as keeping me from going to Jesus. I am sure that this will prevent others from going to Jesus. At one church I went to the preacher said, “I just turn off my hearing aid, and I hear it perfectly.” That is wrong and should be a sign that the music is too loud. That should be a reason to turn it down.

Jesus often taught by simply talking to the people. Jesus never screamed at the children. Yes, the Bible does say shout praised to the Lord. However, you need to remember at that time there was no electric instruments, speakers, or microphones. The people just used their natural voice.

  • King James Bible Isaish 59:1
    • Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
  • New King James Version: Isaish 59:1
    • Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
  • New International Version: Isaish 59:1
    • Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
  • New Living Translation: Isaish 59:1
    • Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
  • English Standard Version: Isaish 59:1
    • Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
  • Berean Standard Bible: Isaish 59:1
    • Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear.
  • New American Standard Bible: Isaish 59:1
    • Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear.
  • Amplified Bible Isaish 59 :1
    • Behold, the LORD’S hand is not so short That it cannot save, Nor His ear so impaired That it cannot hear.
  • Christian Standard Bible : Isaish 59 :1
    • Indeed, the LORD’s arm is not too weak to save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear.
  • Holman Christian Standard Bible: Isaish 59:1
    • Indeed, the LORD’s hand is not too short to save, and His ear is not too deaf to hear.

Other References

  • Matthew 18:1-6
    • At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
    • And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
    • And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
    •  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
    •  And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receives me.
    • But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it was better for him that a millstone was hanged about his neck, and that he was drowned in the depth of the sea.
  • Mark 10:13-16
    • And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
    •  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
    •  Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
    •  And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
  • Matthew 19 :13-15
    •  Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
    •  But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
    • And he laid his hands on them and departed thence.
  • Mark 9:36-37
    • And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them,
    • Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
  • Luke 18:15-17
    • And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
    •  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
    • Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
Bible Studies by Bell

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Returning to Prayer in Our Worship

  Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. Isaiah 56:7

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bough in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:13-13.

The house of God is supposed to be a place of prayer. However, a quick look at the current state of affairs makes it clear that most churches are anything but a house of prayer. There are so many churches that seem to put on a show. Other churches seem to emphasize programs. Programs are not bad or good. It depends on the program. However, anything that replaces prayer as the main event is a problem.

The apostles prayed about everything.

  • Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
  • Acts 1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
  • Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
  • Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
  • Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
  • Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
  • Acts 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
  • Acts 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
  • Philippians 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
  • Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
  • Philippians 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
  • Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Notice that prayer was essential to the development of the early church. Prayer should be essential to our lives as well.

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