Don’t you sometimes sit in church. and look in amazement at some of the young families in the rows ahead of you, and wonder how these little ones can possibly sit still for a whole hour? True, some are better at it than others, even in the same family, but they are there faithfully every Sunday. It is amazing that week after week, you see improvements! It makes you laugh when you see an older sibling straightening out a younger fidgeting one. Not always easy!
In our Reformed tradition, taking your children to church, from age 3 or 4 on, has been the norm for many years. It hasn’t been an easy thing to do! It’s often a trial for Mom and Dad, to see to it that the youngest is learning to sit still, just like the older brother or sister. But amazingly, they learn!
We have friends who, many years ago, gave up the battle of taking their children to church, saying it was much too difficult to keep them quiet: they needed to be entertained in a much more appealing way. They found a church that catered to the needs of their kids; they wouldn’t need to sit still; they could interact and speak their minds (and oh! they had minds of their own) as much as they wanted to. So often the kids’ wants were catered to. What they liked and disliked was taken into account.
It so happened that these friends visited us last year. Yes, they had their worries about their now grown and married children, who didn’t go to church anymore, and in turn had not taken their children at all – “It’s a different world, Mom and Dad, that was maybe okay in your days, but things are so much faster paced, our kids have to keep up with all the latest. But Mom, don’t worry, we still say a simple prayer at mealtime, the one you taught us, Mom!”
Our friends came with us to church during their stay, morning and afternoon services. They were appalled that again there were families with little children in church in the afternoon. “Ach, die arme kinderen!” exclaimed my friend Betsy – (Oh those poor kids!), “Do they have to sit still again for another hour?”
I leaned over and replied to Betsy, “Isn’t that how you and I learned to sit still during worship services so many years ago? And it hasn’t hurt us!” Just then another family walked in, sitting in front of a family with little kids, and it being before the service, they turned around and exchanged little tidbits with giggles. It warmed my heart!
And then I just had to share with Betsy – “Watch them sing when the service starts!” Oh! How thankful I was that our local Christian school still had the custom of teaching the students a psalm or hymn every week. Our pastors knew which ones!
And oh! Those kids in the rows ahead of us didn’t disappoint. Even though it was a difficult Genevan melody, they knew the song! They sang their hearts out, and I couldn’t help it, I had tears in my eyes – it was so moving. I didn’t say anything to Betsy, but after the service, if I’d had a huge bag with chocolate bars, each of those kids would have gotten one from me.
We live in worrisome and confusing times, for us, and for our children. The pace of change in society seems to increase every year. What a comfort to have the solidity of God’s unfailing Word as our comfort and our guide. Our God is faithful – even when we are not always!
The Lord made a covenant with us His children – something we can bank on! Psalm 105 is often sung at baptisms; reflect on these beautiful words from the Genevan Psalter, verse 3:
He is the Lord, our God unfailing,
His judgements everywhere prevailing.
He will remember and uphold
His covenant made in days of old.
The STEADFAST WORDS of His command
A THOUSAND GENERATIONS STAND!
When our children learn these psalms, the meaning of the words is not always grasped, but the words are committed to memory. And by God’s Holy Spirit they are brought to mind through different circumstances throughout their lives! That’s God’s Word; it never returns to Him empty. We can reflect on the beautiful words of Isaiah 55:9-11:
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth,
and making it bud and flourish
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
it will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire,
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Thank the Lord for faithful parents, for faithful pastors, for faithful teachers at our Christian schools!! Hold them up in prayer!! And remain faithful – it comes with many blessings! He has promised!
*****
“The reason I wrote the article was to tell how easily we’re influenced by the culture around us – it’s so easy to give in, and it’s so understandable to wish your kids to be happy and unfettered by old-fashioned dictates. But our faithful God wants us to be obedient – to obey is better than sacrifice. He wants our hearts and commitment.
“How shall the young direct their way –
What light shall be their perfect Guide?
Thy Word oh Lord will safely lead
If in its wisdom they confide!”
That’s from Psalm 119. Again and again, we’re reminded that we need to be under the faithful preaching of His Word – and what better way than to bring your children to Church!
Haven’t you had it, when you really don’t feel like going to church on a hot Sunday afternoon – yet you go, and somehow been richly blessed by the preaching, the singing! Don’t underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit to bring the great truths and comfort of His Word to us. Let’s be thankful that we still have the freedom to take our children to church!! Our forefathers did this under much more difficult circumstances, and parents under repressive regimes must teach their children before they attend school the eternal truths and comfort of salvation in Jesus Christ – belonging to Him, body and soul!! That He will never leave them!!!” – Jennie
