Children's Corner: Showing Respect to God - The Reformation Messenger

“Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.” Leviticus 19:30

Susie and Jimmy were excited. This Sabbath their cousin, Jane, would be back at church. Jane and her family had been away for one-year on an assignment that Jane’s father, the church missionary, had to do for the church. Susie and Jimmy loved Jane very much and they missed her dearly when she was gone. The three cousins were very close.

Sabbath morning came and the sun was shining in all its brilliance. The children were up early, and ready to go 15 minutes before their normal departure time. They were getting a little impatient as they so much wanted to see Jane again.

Finally, they arrived at church. Jane and her family were already there and seated in the second pew from the front. Susie begged her mother to go and share the same pew so that they could sit together. Mother agreed, as long as the children did not cause any disturbance in the church. Excitedly Susie and Jimmy quickly went up to the second pew and joined Jane and her family. Jane’s face lit up as she saw her cousins join her in the pew and quietly sit down beside her. It took great effort on their part to keep silent and just smile at each other. They knew that they would have more time later to talk and if they disrupted the service now, they would be separated.

This day, they had another guest speaker who did not speak English and the entire sermon had to be spoken through translation from Spanish to English. This made it longer and especially tedious for the young children. Soon the patience of Susie, Jimmy and Jane wore thin. When the Spanish preacher was speaking, they began to nudge each other, smile, and then whisper. This happened for about 15 minutes until Susie’s mother, showed her displeasure and separated the children. Susie and Jimmy were glum and lost the blessing from the sermon. They knew a punishment was forthcoming, but they were just getting so impatient, wanting to be able to talk and laugh with Jane.

After the service, they did indeed receive a punishment. They had to go directly home and could not visit with Jane that afternoon. Susie and Jimmy were very sad.

After lunch, mother took the two children with her in the living room. She put her arms around them and prayed with them. Then she began to explain to them why they were being punished and what they did was so wrong.

“When you are in school, and the teacher walks in and begins speaking to the class, what do you do?”

“Why, we silently listen,” responded Jimmy, “we would not dare to speak or we would be sent to the principle’s office.”

“And what if you had dinner with the king or queen, how would you act when they were speaking?” continued Mother.

“We would listen carefully and not say a word,” answered Susie.

“But we were only whispering when the Spanish preacher was talking, so as not to disturb the listeners. They don’t understand Spanish anyhow.” Jimmy mentioned.

“Yes, that is true,” Mother replied. “However, it still does disturb the other listeners, and it also disturbs Jesus and the angels. Even though we do not see them, they are with us. They fill every pew and they write down every word that you speak, every thought that you think. Every time you disrespect the sanctuary, you are disrespecting Jesus. This is His house and we are coming to worship Him, even though we do not see Him.”

“What about before the sermon begins?” asked Susie. “Maybe we should come a little early next time so we can exchange our greetings before the sermon.”

“No,” Mother answered softly, “it is never all right to speak in God’s house even when there are no services being conducted, unless you are teaching a lesson or answering a question, praying, or preaching. It is equally wrong to walk around except when coming in or going out, or collecting the offering. The sanctuary of God is a very solemn place and we are to show it utmost respect whether there are services in progress or not, even when there is no one in the sanctuary. It is always a very holy place.

“We are sorry, Mother,” replied Susie and Jimmy together.

“Let us pray,” said Mother, “that God will forgive us and help us show more respect in the future.”

“Yes, let’s pray,” answered the children.

Every Sabbath we have the privilege of gathering to worship the King of the universe. Take careful notice of your actions at church. See how many times you talk, whisper or communicate in some manner in the church. Does this please Jesus? Or how many times do we use our cell phones to communicate in church, or to look at various different web sites unrelated to the service.

“When you enter the sanctuary remember, ‘God is here; this is His house. . . . I am coming into the presence of the holy God.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 494

“When the worshipers enter the place of meeting, they should do so with decorum, passing quietly to their seats.

“If some have to wait a few minutes before the meeting begins, let them maintain a true spirit of devotion by silent meditation, keeping the heart uplifted to God in prayer that the service may be of special benefit to their own hearts and lead to the conviction and conversion of other souls. They should remember that heavenly messengers are in the house. We all lose much sweet communion with God by our restlessness, by not encouraging moments of reflection and prayer. . . . The whispering and laughing and talking which might be without sin in a common business place should find no sanction in the house where God is worshiped. The mind should be prepared to hear the word of God, that it may have due weight and suitably impress the heart.

“When the minister enters, it should be with dignified, solemn mien. He should bow down in silent prayer as soon as he steps into the pulpit, and earnestly ask help of God. What an impression this will make! There will be solemnity and awe upon the people. Their minister is communing with God; he is committing himself to God before he dares to stand before the people. Solemnity rests upon all, and angels of God are brought very near. Every one of the congregation, also, who fears God should with bowed head unite in silent prayer with him that God may grace the meeting with His presence and give power to His truth proclaimed from human lips. . . . All the service should be conducted with solemnity and awe, as if in the visible presence of the Master of assemblies.

“When the word is spoken, you should remember, brethren, that you are listening to the voice of God through His delegated servant. Listen attentively. Sleep not for one instant, because by this slumber you may lose the very words that you need most–the very words which, if heeded, would save your feet from straying into wrong paths. . . . Sometimes a little child may so attract the attention of the hearers that the precious seed does not fall into good ground and bring forth fruit. Sometimes young men and women have so little reverence for the house and worship of God that they keep up a continual communication with each other during the sermon. Could these see the angels of God looking upon them and marking their doings, they would be filled with shame, with abhorrence of themselves. God wants attentive hearers. It was while men slept that Satan sowed his tares.

“When the benediction is pronounced, all should still be quiet, as if fearful of losing the peace of Christ. Let all pass out without jostling or loud talking, feeling that they are in the presence of God, that His eye is resting upon them, and that they must act as in His visible presence. Let there be no stopping in the aisles to visit or gossip, thus blocking them up so that others cannot pass out. The precincts of the church should be invested with a sacred reverence. It should not be made a place to meet old friends and visit and introduce common thoughts and worldly business transactions. These should be left outside the church.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 492–494

The apostle Paul wrote, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15

you think. Every time you disrespect the sanctuary, you are disrespecting Jesus. This is His house and we are coming to worship Him, even though we do not see Him.”