"Aren't they cute?" gushed the visitor as she looked through the stained-glass at the children in the nursery. One has to admit that babies do provide a spontaneous form of creative expression and entertainment. But the ecclesiastical nursery is rampant with structured chaos indicative of early childhood, complete with short attention spans and selfish propensities.

   In one corner children are listening to nursery-stories which have been told over and over for generation after generation. These stories develop imagination and conceptualization, but do they have any application to living?

   Another group of children is clapping their hands and singing up-tempo music to the rhythmic accompaniment of an assortment of "rattles." It is obvious that they "feel" their music, as they sway with the beat and gesture with their hands.

   A few of the children are attempting to make the transition from crawling on all fours to walking upright. Their underdeveloped peripatetic skills lead to many tumbles and falls.

Emotions run high in the nursery. While some are squealing with delight, others are shrieking their selfish intent to control the toy that is presently in the possession of another. "Mine!" "Gimme, gimme!" The process of "getting along" and learning to share is often a slow process.    There are squabbles and spats and infighting, requiring conflict resolution and reconciliation. Injuries occasionally occur with consequent screaming and crying in pain. But a kiss and a band-aid usually suffice to heal the "boo-boos" and "ouchies." Supernatural healing indeed!

The nursery helpers are preparing bottles of milk for the bottle-babies. Other children are on "formulas" or are subjected to bland pablum or a variety of Gerber specialties.    Much of the fussing and crying is a result of tired infants who need some nap-time and rest. In the meantime pacifiers will have to suffice for those babes who think that their needs demand immediate attention. Thumbsuckers provide their own.

Much of nursery time is spent in clean-up, wiping faces, hands and snotty noses. Oh yes, there are the "accidents." As ever, the attendants must suffer through the unenviable task of changing dirty diapers.

Baby-sitting is a weary assignment. Particularly when some of the babies have been in the nursery for as long as anyone can remember. The "Nursery-Roll" records go back for decades, and few there are who have ever "graduated" out of the nursery.

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   We observe here the tragedy of protracted infancy. The church was never intended to be a never-ending nursery for perpetual babies. Why have we tolerated or fostered this retarded growth process wherein many Christians remain spiritual babies?

   The Apostle Paul lamented the fact that the Corinthians were still "babes in Christ" (I Corinthians 3:1). His desire was to "present every man mature in Christ" (Colossians 1:28).

   Likewise, the writer to the Hebrews (perhaps also Paul) chided his readers for a failure to "grow up." "...by this time you ought to be teachers, but you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.... Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ, and let us press on to maturity" (Hebrews 5:12 - 6:2).