Nursing Mothers

Oral sex is mentioned in SoS, too, but I don't want that going on among the congregation.

 

Proper in church? Probably not as long as there are adolescent boys in attendance. Just my opinion.

 

If it so offends you look then other way and mind your own business. There's much greater things to be concerned about. At my church there aren't any little babies to be nursed. I pray that one day we will have nursing mothers, an over flowing nursery, and children banging on the walls. I'd love to have those "problems." If you are having a problem with nursing mothers in your church then send them to mine, we'd be glad to have them.

 

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

It's a blessing for our church. Ten years ago we had very few children. Now childcare is something we have to plan carefully. We almost always have enough workers to handle things efficiently (thanks to responsible husbands pitching in to help), and women are respected for their tireless efforts to raise their children well.

sag38, if you continue to have that fine family-friendly attitude, I'm guessing the Lord will send children to bless your congregation as well.

 

Feeling is mutual Annsni - I just don't get this problem at all - maybe I am a weirdo

 

I think the phrase "it says more about you than about the mother breastfeeding" is one of the best thoughts I have seen in a long, long time. Both of our kids were breast fed.

 

And I'll bet they turned out just fine, not psychologically scarred or anything! :laugh:

 

There are lots of distractions in church. People blowing their noses, chewing gum, kids coloring (even quietly), ladies unzipping their purses, etc. "Distractions" are all around us.

Distracting others, to me, is not the same as being immodest, if one is properly covered.

 

When I was a younger teen I got in trouble for even breathing wrong but Ms. Elaine, well no one said anything to her about her clipping her fingernails during the middle of the sermon. Talk about distracting!!!

 

Ewwwwww!!! Give me a nursing mother any day over that!!

 

They both turned out great. I got married at age 25 and my wife 24. The years passed, and we had no kids. I even got on an adoption list. Finally, when I was 32, here comes the first one. At 34, here comes the second one. My wife had to have a histo at the same time the last one was born, because of fibroid tumors. I took us off the adoption list at that point anyhow.

As far as the feeding, she did so. In fact, we were working two different shifts, and I fed them with her milk that she had pre-made in bottles. One is married and one not. As we close in on age 60, still no grandkids.

 

Just curious, are you using Biblical wisdom here or your own? How does this mesh with what the Holy Spirit through Paul has taught? If we know an avoidable action causes another to lust, are we to stand on our rights? If so, is the person emphasizing their own liberty, over the concerns of sin (i.e. your example of lust) within the fellowship really not going to be held to account? Again, is this what the Scripture says?

 

Luke 11:27 And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman of the crowd lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts which you have nursed.



Oh my. She said it right there in public and to Jesus nonetheless.

I wonder if there were any nursing babies in this crowd.

 

..........

 

Romans 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

Me personally, a woman breast-feeding doesn't cause feelings of lust. And I can certainly tell which men are straining to get an eyeful, and say something to them about it. BUT--If we know something causes a problem, should we do it?

 

I haven't read all the posts here. But I can tell you what goes on in our church. Mothers with children typically sit near the back. There they can breastfeed their children being relatively unnoticed by the rest of the church. They also do it discreetly with a small blanket that covers that particular part of the body along with the head of the baby. Why would that offend anyone?

If the woman is deliberately showing off her breast because she has the chance to breastfeed, then shame on her! Some people are carnal enough to have an excuse to be immodest. I am sorry to have to say that, but that is the way it is. Modesty is key here.

Others want the chance to show off. They may deliberately sit near the front of the church in order to garner attention. That also is wrong.

There is a place for everything. It is not wrong if done discretely, not drawing attention to oneself. Sometimes the mother feels uncomfortable, and she ends up going to the nursery anyway. But in some churches that is not practical for all nursing mothers. However, if the infant is colicky and starts to fuss loudly, disturbing others, then the mother should take the baby out of the church and allow others to listen to the Word of God without disturbance.