Has anyone ever been to a messy church event?

[Mamabear04]

Just wondering if anyone has taken their kids to a messy church event and what it was like? We've been invited by a friend but was wondering if it's very religious or.....? I like the idea of crafts a free food though!

I thought you meant, like drama and was about to launch into the time Inwas at a wedding that was called off because the boyfriend of the groom stormed in and started a massive brawl!

As for ‘is it religious?’ - yes, all church events are and the ones aimed at getting kids in are there to start indoctrination as early as possible…

This is the best advice. Go along and see how it feels. I personally found that the secular groups felt less ‘worthy’ and more fun, but you might not have a choice in your area.

I’m a Christian. I believe I’m doing things “for the glory of Christ” if I’m helping and serving others, whoever they are. We have Muslims coming to our Messy Church and the last thing I’m thinking about is converting them - I’m just trying to be a friendly face and offer free fun activities to families that have little money and have been through a lot of trauma (Afghan refugees). Nor am I trying to convert the non-religious families who come - I just want them to have fun. Of course I love it if people join the church, because my faith means a lot to me and being a faith community is an indissoluble part of that, and I would love for more people to be a part of it and experience what I have and for the community to continue to grow as my church is at present, but it’s absolutely not something I push. I am humble enough to know that I’ve found a faith that I believe to be true and a way of life that works for me, but who am I to say that the Muslim or agnostic woman in front of me doesn’t know more than I do? Certainly God loves them as much as he loves me.

In fact I’d argue that serving others with an ulterior motive (getting them to make a faith commitment or join my church) is missing the point, or even is the opposite of “glorifying Christ”. I don’t want to be welcomed and loved as a target for someone else’s ideas, so I don’t love people like that either. Most Christians I know would agree with me, though I know evangelicals might emphasise it differently.

I try to “be Christ” to those I meet. When I read the Gospels, that means sitting with the local homeless and the sex workers and befriending and feeding them, giving time to the sick and suffering, and trying my small best to help all those in need. All of which I and my fellow Christians in my church do. Because we know we are loved and we try our best to love others in return, especially those who need it most. That’s all.

Certainly God loves them as much as he loves me.

No, there is no "certainty" to this. It is your faith position. It is dishonest and disingenuous to say both "who am I to say that the Muslim or agnostic woman in front of me doesn’t know more than I do?" and then "but, actually, I do know better than them. This is certain truth."

And again, even if this is your faith position, the church says that for people who do exactly what you do without the same motivation their actions are a waste of time. Do you agree?

Have a think on why there are so many churches in the UK

because we used to be a Christian country @Isitjustmeoranyoneelse. But now we’re secular with very few active church goers. So reduce them and give them back to the community. Now that would be a ‘Christian’ thing to do….

Quite right. Imagine if your kids got infected with that "Love your neighbour as yourself" stuff. Imagine if the whole world did! Then where would we be?

Most messy churches are going to include food, crafts and a bible story or Christian theme. The exact flavour will vary.

Quite right. Imagine if your kids got infected with that "Love your neighbour as yourself" stuff. Imagine if the whole world did! Then where would we be?

I always think it’s such a weird flex when Christians try to claim being a decent human being is a Christian thing. And not just a decent human being thing.

I was very surprised, going along to my local CofE, that the vicar prioritises showing love to others over everything else; even over doctrine. So very different from the sect I was brought up in which treated everyone outside the sect with suspicion and seemed to want to make us all feel unworthy because we couldn't live up to the standards required.

Yep. Also @Nikitaspearlearring I prefer for my kids to make their own decisions about which religion (if any) they would like to follow and whether or not they believe in God etc. It's nothing to do with being a good person etc, odd you should think that.

I just don't see the harm they could get from hearing a story about Jesus. It's part of an all-round education at the very least.

Just a small update...we went and it was fab! There was a story (not a bible story but with a Christian narative about light) and a song but actually it was not in your face and the kids loved the music. Loads of crafts to occupy the older kids and messy sensory play for toddlers plus masses of toys everywhere. They even provided a full blown meal think soup, mac and cheese, fruit and veg, bread, cakes, juice, tea and coffee and best of all didn't even ask for any money! Was so relaxed and I'd say most families weren't actually church goers anyway so it all felt like a normal kids activity rather than heavily religious. Would definitely go back for all of the above.

I guess if you want them to make their own decision then you need to expose them to different ideas then so messy church would actually probably be good for them!

Well they have to be old enough to understand that @Mamabear04. Under a certain age it's just indoctrination

Yeah I guess that's true but it will happen as soon as they go to nursery and school. Just thinking about all the religious things they are exposed to casually like yoga, Halloween, Christian themes at school around Christmas and Easter, maybe other religious celebrations like Eid or Diwali if you live in a multicultural area. I don't think hearing a story and singing a song is going to indoctrinate a young child if I'm honest.

Because they have found something that is meaningful for them, something that works for them. Like I said in my post, if you like it great, if you don't then that's fine. Religion is always massively contentious and I get that but for many people it is something positive in their life. If it's not for you that's fine, like I said, but I think it's unfair to brand it as some kind of weird group that want to indoctrinate you for the sake of Christ without caring about you because that is not true. All of the people I know who are involved in church DO care, very much, about community and real people. And for what it's worth, I don't have faith myself, I don't worship in any church, that is my choice. But I think the church can be wonderful for some people and I stand by that.

Sounds great!

My daughter has been involved in a few different church-based activities, mostly because nearly all the toddler groups I could access were. I would have preferred secular but I felt socialisation outweighed the "risks". She has heard all about Jesus etc., and I've just told her it's a story that some people believe, but we don't. I don't think she's indoctrinated.