It’s Sunday Morning; Do You Know Where Your Children Are?
Some of us may remember a message that would appear on our television screens almost every (if not all) evening. As I remember it, just as the 10:00 pm news came on, these words would appear:
It’s 10:00. Do you know where your children are?
I grew up in a home in which the parents did not need that “little reminder.” I guess that I kind of resented that at the time, but I’m very thankful now that my parents loved me enough to try to make sure they knew the answer to that question.
I’ve been doing some thinking lately about another question that might need to be asked. What would your answer be if the question was amended to the following:
It’s Sunday morning. Do you know where your children are?
I’m thinking especially of parents of adult children and those who possibly have grandchildren. I’m thinking of those parents who are in a worship service or a Bible class who are not confident that their children and/or grandchildren are doing the same. In fact, these parents may be confident that these people they love are not doing what they are doing.
I fully understand that regular church attendance is not the only criteria for “faithfulness.” All of us know people who “are there every time the doors are open,” but who certainly do not act like Christians the rest of the time. They certainly send a mixed message to others about what it means to be a Christian.
These are not the only ones who send a mixed message, though. What about the people who will sing, “Oh, How I Love Jesus” on Sunday morning but are nowhere to be found a few hours later when the local congregation assembles for evening worship or on Wednesday evening for an hour of Bible study? What about those who, when they are on vacation also see that as an opportunity to “take a vacation from God?” What message is sent when the choice is made to attend and/or participate in a school activity, a social event, a concert, a ballgame, etc. at a time when there is an opportunity for worship, Bible study, and/or service at the local congregation? What message is sent when the Lord’s day is seen as a travel day?
What message is sent when those choices are made by parents of impressionable children? What message is sent when parents actually make those choices for their children?
Again, I am fully aware that church attendance and faithfulness are not necessarily synonymous. I also know that it may matter a great deal how parents instill within their children a love for worship and Bible study instead of teaching by words or actions that these are things to be endured and dreaded. I even understand that there are parents who were very diligent in trying to instill the true meaning of faithfulness within their children, only to have those children reject all of that when they are adults.
With all of that said, I’m wondering if it might be possible for some people to be sitting in a worship service or Bible study wondering…
I wonder where my children and grandchildren are?
Is it possible that they know the answer to that question and that just don’t like that answer? Is it possible that, as they do some real “soul searching,” they know why?
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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
