Featured Forced to Serve / so I dont go OP

Forced to serve

GOOD question. I am in a large " contemporary " fundemental baptist church and I have been " put" on the nursery list without being asked. I was told it is mandatory of all the women in the church, I have two grand daughters who attend there too and between babysitting and helping with the girls and caring for my eldery mom, I really have NO desire to be in a nursery with 20 screaming kids. I have expressed this to them to no avail. How is is " serving" if you are FORCED. That isnt serving, that is LEGALISM. :BangHead:

 

Background checks.

Legalism, No.

 

how is it NOT legalism when someone is being forced to serve in a area they dont want to, for whatever reason. How is that different from " all skirts must be a certain lenght" ie " all women must serve in the nursery"..... Two in the same if you ask me. Then I get" well all the women are thrilled to be serving in the nursery". Yea right. If they are all THRILLED then they wouldnt have to be forcing people to serve.

 

I don't believe anyone should be forced to serve anywhere.

 

Not in one single thread started on this subject has anyone said anyone is forced to serve. In fact forcing someone is not possible. People can only do what they choose to do.

The nursery is an area where it is difficult to get enough people to serve in to meet the needs of the church. Because of this, and only because of this, churches make it an option, if you want to use the services of the nursery you must help out so that it can function and meet the needs. Without that option the nursery would be unavailable to anyone in many churches.

The charge of legalism over this and background checks is absurd.

 

AMEN!
A sacrifice is something willingly given, whether it's time in a nursery or giving our very lives for others.

 

If there are not enough volunteers to staff the nursery, close the nursery.
A nursery isn't a requirement to worship God. Nor is Children's Church and a host of other things found in modern churches. Things that didn't exist when our church first held services under a bush arbor almost 150 years ago. Families prayed together and stayed together.

 

Some churches may do that. And if a parent does not want to serve in the nursery then they can act just in the same way you have suggested here. The difficulty then arises when their children become a distraction in the service they will have to take the child out anyway.

There is no need to be offended that a church requires parents to serve in the nursery or not use the nursery for their own child when you would rather there was no nursery anyway. That is an inconsistent position to hold. After all the child ends up in the service with them anyway.

 

First, we have parents who use the nursery and others who don't. It isn't a "difficulty" to most church members when a baby cries and has to be taken out during services. The pastor keeps preaching and the members keep listening. Ususally within a few minutes both the parent and child return to the services.

Matthew 19: KJB
13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.

14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

Why did you use the term "offended"? I don't take personal offense with others who disagree with me. If I did, I'd be "offended" by better half quite often. And vs versa.

I'm not opposed to a church having a nursery if the membership votes to include one in their ministry. I am opposed to forcing any member to participate in any ministry in the church for any reason. There's no difference between forcing someone to bring a covered dish in order to enter the fellowship hall and forcing a parent to serve in the nursery if their children enter there.

Forcing a parent to serve in the nursery for their children to be there is a form of payment. Just as being forced to bring a covered dish is a form of payment for a meal. Does God expect us to make forced and specific "payments" to Him in any manner?

If the church is large enough, another option is to have a fund raiser or two for money to staff the nursery with paid workers, during worship services. While I won't volunteer to work in the nursery, I would volunteer to assist in raising money for those positions. Perhaps many of the reluctant parents would also be willing to assist, as well. Has anyone asked them, if they'd prefer to give a Saturday, for example?

Close the nursery, hire paid workers, or solely rely on volunteers who are willing to serve our Lord in this manner. Jesus doesn't force us to do anything. All we do for Him is to be from a willing heart. Shouldn't the same principle apply in places where we worship Him?

 

Again no one is forced to do anything. That is a false characterization and should be brought to an end so as not to be a part of dishonesty. Parents can choose to use the nursery or not. Period.

 

Several scriptures were emailed to me by the person in charge of the nursery, implying I was not " serving" with a happy heart. If I can find the emails in my inbox, I will post them. I was made to feel like crap because I didnt want to be forced to serve in the nursery. It is still a form of legalism, they look at people who dont want to serve in a certain area as" not right with God", not obeying the Lord, etc. It IS legalism :BangHead:

 

If there are abuses with this, as with any issue, that is not evidence to show this is wrong. And quite frankly if you are serving anywhere with a pouty face and bad attitude then you should be corrected regardless if you want to be there or not.

 

Here it is: Legalism

Sandy,

I am greatly disappointed in your decision to remove yourself from the nursery team and cleaning team. The cleaning team is comprised of volunteers that give an hour a month to help clean the church so that on Sunday the entire building is presentable for our members, non members and visitors. The nursery, however, is not a volunteer position. We assign each woman of the church a 6 month duty that rotates. Unless you are severely injured or sick ~ we expect that you would serve in this ministry as all other women do. We are a ministry that relies on God's people to help us accomplish the practical workings of the ministry to His Glory. I would admonish and challenge you to seriously pray about this important decision. May His encouragement by with you.

Romans 12: 1-2 " I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Serving with Gladness,

Jacquie

 

The church provides a nursery as a part of their ministry.
For a child to be a part of this ministry the parent MUST pay a price.

Is that a false characterization? Is that a dishonest statement?

 

Nope they do not have to pay anything. In some churches they must pitch in to help. Nothing wrong with that. Trying to create victims where none exist is a crying shame.