Last week, we talked of how carrying our cross is to be a joyful experience, looking past the cross to the joyful life that lies on the other side. We talked about how our most wonderful life happens when we stop living our life plan and begin to listen to and follow Jesus’ life plan for us.
This week we’re going to talk about children. Our children.
Some of you may have young children in the cute stage. Others may have teenagers in the not-so-cute stage. Still others may have grown children and are working on those cute grandchildren or even great-grandchildren. And, I’m sure, there are those of you who are listening or watching who don’t have any children and are wondering if this is a blessing or a curse. And there are others of you who have wanted children but were never able to have children.
In my own family, we have all of the above or have gone through those stages. So far, we’ve raised five children, have seven grandchildren, a great-grandchild, and another on the way. Our family has experienced step-children, infertility, and adopted children. We’ve experienced times when we were very blessed by our children and times when we felt cursed by our children. But in the end, we’ve loved them all – everyone of them in the family that seems to grow every year.
Children hold a special place in the Bible. Back in Deuteronomy 6, Moses made sure that the people of Israel understood that the Law applied not only to the people, but their children and their children’s children. The Law Moses had brought down from the mountain, the Law given to him by God. It applies not only to you, but to the children and the grandchildren.
And how are those younger members of your family supposed to learn about what God wants? It was very simple. Moses said that “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
In Moses’ time, 3000 years ago, in a time before Zoom teaching, in a time before classroom teachers, in a time before videos, before books were common, indeed in a time before reading was common, in a time when professional teachers were only available to the wealthiest of the wealthy – Moses told the people to teach their own children what God wanted. How? How could these people teach their own children about God? Didn’t that require a professional? Haven’t times changed?
No.
For Moses understood that we are all teachers, even today. A father and mother talk about the politics, about the President, about the governor, about riots and protests, about COVID-19 and masks – and during all this time, they are overheard by their children and they are teaching their children. Grandmother makes rolls or a pie and her granddaughter watches and learns. Grandpa changes the oil for his truck and his grandson watches and learns. Mom tells the children to clean their rooms and vacuum and the children learn this skill. Dad complains about his job and the men he works with and the children learn what is right and what is wrong about those men – and what they need to do to be good or bad workers.
Families tell family history, they tell of grandfather who was in the Army and met grandmother at a USO dance outside Fort Hood during the Vietnam War. They talk of the tiny home they lived in and the children learn about early married life.
Families plant a garden together and the children learn how to make hills for zucchini and long rows for beans and how to pinch the first flowers off of tomatoes and such. They learn how to run a lawnmower and load a dishwasher and how to sort clothing before washing it and the second week of college those children who did not learn about sorting and bleach wear pink shirts to class.
And throughout all this, children learn very clearly what Dad and Mom and Grandma and Grandpa think is the importance of a relationship with God, because some parents talk about God and what God wants as they “sit at home” and as they walk along the road, as they get up to eat breakfast and as they lie down at night. Some parents talk about God all the time with their children and grandchildren – and others don’t talk much at all about God.
By the time children are 12 or 13 years old, 80% of those who will be Christians in their life have already become Christians. Another 10% will become Christians before they graduated from high school. The final 10% will become Christians after they turn 18. So the odds of a child becoming a Christian after they have become an adult are very slim.
That’s why on about 25% of adults go to church regularly. Another 25% go to church 2 or 3 times a year. Another 25% claim to be Christian but haven’t gone to church in over a year. And the final 25% don’t even bother to claim to be a Christian anymore.
About 50 years ago, we assumed that our children would become Christian. We just didn’t know whether they’d become Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic or another Christian group. And so we didn’t want to force our children to pick a church – we let them choose. And many choose to not go to church at all. We thought they’d come back to church as adults. Many didn’t. And those children now have children and grand-children who never attend church. For they watched more movies and TV shows who made fun of Christians instead of meeting real Christians and understanding that while all people have flaws, there were outstanding Christian men and women who would have loved them and taught them wisdom. They would have learned wisdom that kept them from making many of the mistakes they’ve made in their lives.
And do you know how those older Christians learned that wisdom? Sometimes it was because they had listened to sermons on life given by older men and women. And sometimes it was because they – or their friends – had made mistakes. The same mistakes that people make today.
And this is a key reason why it is important for the children to be brought to church. A church is a community of wise men and women. Yes – every church has it’s share of people who don’t get it, who are still learning themselves, who hurt people without realizing it. But the people who lead in most good churches are sound, wisdom-filled men and women, who want to the best for others, and who are willing to teach newcomers what they know.
It is difficult enough in this world for us to get through as adults. It truly helps to have a community of older men who have been there to say to the young father, “What do I do with my son?”. It really helps to have a community of older women who can say to you, young mother, “Yes, my daughter did that, too, and here’s how we worked it out.”
This time of COVID has brought forth another reason to bring your children to church. After so many months at home, with little or no social interaction, most children – and adults – are starved for wholesome time spent with others. And while children at churches are not perfect – for they are children, after all – you the parent have the advantage of being able to spend time with their parents or grandparents, so you have an idea what lessons they are being taught – whereas at the school, you have little idea what the other children’s parents are teaching them.
And so, what Moses said to the parents and grandparents still applies. You are your child’s first and best teacher. You know your child and her learning style better than anyone else does. You know what you want to teach your child – that it is more important to teach a child to be kind than where Tajikistan is, that it is more important for your child to know how to share than to diagram sentences. You know that it is more important for a man to respect God than to know how to prove a geometric theorem. So bring your child to church – and even more, when you go home, discuss the sermons, read the Bible, and talk about God and what God wants of them as you sit, as you walk around the house, as you ride in the car, as you have breakfast together, and just before bed. Pray together.
About 50 years ago, we assumed that our children would become Christian. We just didn’t know whether they’d become Baptist, Methodist, or Catholic or another Christian group. And so we didn’t want to force our children to pick a church – we let them choose. And many choose to not go to church at all. We thought they’d come back to church as adults. Many didn’t. And those children now have children and grand-children who never attend church. For they watched more movies and TV shows who made fun of Christians instead of meeting real Christians and understanding that while all people have flaws, there were outstanding Christian men and women who would have loved them and taught them wisdom. They would have learned wisdom that kept them from making many of the mistakes they’ve made in their lives.
And do you know how those older Christians learned that wisdom? Sometimes it was because they had listened to sermons on life given by older men and women. And sometimes it was because they – or their friends – had made mistakes. The same mistakes that people make today.
And this is a key reason why it is important for the children to be brought to church. A church is a community of wise men and women. Yes – every church has it’s share of people who don’t get it, who are still learning themselves, who hurt people without realizing it. But the people who lead in most good churches are sound, wisdom-filled men and women, who want to the best for others, and who are willing to teach newcomers what they know.
It is difficult enough in this world for us to get through as adults. It truly helps to have a community of older men who have been there to say to the young father, “What do I do with my son?”. It really helps to have a community of older women who can say to you, young mother, “Yes, my daughter did that, too, and here’s how we worked it out.”
This time of COVID has brought forth another reason to bring your children to church. After so many months at home, with little or no social interaction, most children – and adults – are starved for wholesome time spent with others. And while children at churches are not perfect – for they are children, after all – you the parent have the advantage of being able to spend time with their parents or grandparents, so you have an idea what lessons they are being taught – whereas at the school, you have little idea what the other children’s parents are teaching them.
And so, what Moses said to the parents and grandparents still applies. You are your child’s first and best teacher. You know your child and her learning style better than anyone else does. You know what you want to teach your child – that it is more important to teach a child to be kind than where Tajikistan is, that it is more important for your child to know how to share than to diagram sentences. You know that it is more important for a man to respect God than to know how to prove a geometric theorem. So bring your child to church – and even more, when you go home, discuss the sermons, read the Bible, and talk about God and what God wants of them as you sit, as you walk around the house, as you ride in the car, as you have breakfast together, and just before bed. Pray together.
Many people talk about all sorts of things with their children: Football, acting, politics, other things. But what is truly important?
For, after all, only Tom Brady plays football after age 40, but all people die.
Only Betty White acts after age 90, but all people meet with God.
Only Jimmy Carter is still in politics in his 90’s, but all people stand in front of Saint Peter.
What is important for your children to learn? Football, acting, dance, politics? Or the keys to eternal life and a wonderful soul?
Some people have come to me in various churches and said that they do not like children in church because it disrupts the service. But here, I have not seen any of that. Instead, we would much rather have your children running in our aisles, for that gives hope. Running in our aisles while hearing about God instead of running in the streets learning about meth.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
My wife and I have raised five children. So when you come to our churches, please recognize this rule. “Let your children be children, for that is how they will receive the kingdom of heaven.”
If you have questions about bringing your children to church, just give us a call at the church office or send us an email. You can find all that at cedargroveunitedmethodist.org
Father, I pray for these people in this church and all those watching and listening at home. Fill them with your Holy Spirit, teach them Your ways, help them bring the Good News of Jesus’s love into their hearts so that they may do great things by teaching their children and grandchildren of Your love. We pray this in the name of Jesus.
Remember: Teach your children and grandchildren about the love of God and Christ. Bring your children to church.
For, after all, only Tom Brady plays football after age 40, but all people die.
Only Betty White acts after age 90, but all people meet with God.
Only Jimmy Carter is still in politics in his 90’s, but all people stand in front of Saint Peter.
What is important for your children to learn? Football, acting, dance, politics? Or the keys to eternal life and a wonderful soul?
Some people have come to me in various churches and said that they do not like children in church because it disrupts the service. But here, I have not seen any of that. Instead, we would much rather have your children running in our aisles, for that gives hope. Running in our aisles while hearing about God instead of running in the streets learning about meth.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
My wife and I have raised five children. So when you come to our churches, please recognize this rule. “Let your children be children, for that is how they will receive the kingdom of heaven.”
If you have questions about bringing your children to church, just give us a call at the church office or send us an email. You can find all that at cedargroveunitedmethodist.org
Father, I pray for these people in this church and all those watching and listening at home. Fill them with your Holy Spirit, teach them Your ways, help them bring the Good News of Jesus’s love into their hearts so that they may do great things by teaching their children and grandchildren of Your love. We pray this in the name of Jesus.
Remember: Teach your children and grandchildren about the love of God and Christ. Bring your children to church.
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