A British author writing in the “Banner of Truth” began with this hypothetical scenario. “An elder preceded the minister into the pulpit then came to the front and addressed the congregation. ‘Last week . . . a child was bored in the service.’ A gasp went through the congregation. Men looked at their feet, women cried quietly, and children went white.” He then suggests in this hypothetical scenario that the church officers were going to meet with the pastor and resolve the problem.

I found it interesting that the author thought this was a significant problem in British churches. It is certainly a problem in American churches. One of the greatest sins a church can commit today is to bore children. Church services and youth programs are designed to be high energy and to keep the attention of not just children but the adults.

It is understandable why pastors work so hard to make sure that their services and youth programs are boredom-free zones. Churches have to compete with a generation reared on television, video games, computers, and smart phones. They live in a world of noise and excitement. They have short attention spans.

What a contrast to adults who lived in the pre-digital age. They read books. They played games they made up themselves. They pursued various activities and hobbies. They didn’t expect parents or pastors to entertain them.

I wonder if we wouldn’t do these children a favor by once again introducing them to a simpler life. Instead of youth programs playing loud music and showing videos, why not provide quiet, reflection, and solid biblical instruction?

If we really want to prepare children for the future, we better prepare them to sometimes be bored. When they get a job, they must be prepared to do some boring tasks. Future fathers and mothers certainly should be prepared to do lots of boring, repetitive chores. Life isn’t always fun and exciting.

If children or adults are bored in church, the problem may not be with the worship or the sermon. There is value in learning to be still and hear from God.