This is dedicated to three groups of people. First, to my wife Donna, who was a single mother every Sunday when our children were young because we had multiple services at church and she had all the responsibility to get our precious ones pressed, dressed, and in place. Second, to those with young children now, who get their children to “the House of the Lord” every Sunday possible. Finally, to all those who lovingly teach and minister to our children each Sunday — you are angels who serve us, our children, and eternity and we confidently pray that God blesses you richly!

    It’s Sunday morning again! Time to get up and go to church. Ready? Of course not; but ready or not, here we go! We’re “going to church.”

    “Going to church” is the weird world of Sunday mornings many of us find ourselves inhabiting at certain points in our lives. If you don’t believe in satanic opposition, just try to get a family with several pre-school kids ready to go to church. It’s a serious case of the killer B’s — Breakfast, baths, bottles, burps, books, and Barney!

    As any experienced Sunday morning “going to church” parent knows, it’s not just a job, it’s an adventure. You rise early to get your own shower finished as early as possible. Then you try to get “half ready” before the wildness begins. You gently stir your little ones awake and remind them that “we need to hurry,” because we’re “going to church.” “Hurry” and “going to church” will be the oft repeated phrases this morning — along with such spiritually enriching prose as “you all behave back there” and “please be quiet” and “quit eating the crayolas” and “please give your sister back her Barney” and “don’t bite your brother” and “please don’t cry.”

    After coaxing a little breakfast down your precious little ones, the serious work of getting ready to go to church begins. The clothes you laid out the night before are ready, not too many wrinkles or spots, so you begin the assembly line process of dressing your children. Hopefully the first one hasn’t ruined his Sunday clothes or hasn’t soiled her dress by the time the youngest one is fed, burped, and clothed. Oh yeah, and you’ve got to finish getting dressed, coiffed, and packed for the long adventure yourself! “Let’s see,” you mumble to yourself, “do I have the crayons, paper, juice, tippee cups, bottles, Cheerios, Bibles, diaper bag, wipes, diapers, Bible picture books, pacifiers, Bible class material, and of course, my church smile!” Of course the church smile shouldn’t go on until you get your kids all through the bathroom drill and in their classrooms with their own little Bibles.

    As you drop each child off, he screams like a wild banshee or she looks up with pouting eyes. You know they will only cry 10 or 15 seconds before they settle in and have a blast with their little buddies learning about the Savior. The tears and pouting are for your benefit, so they carry on just long enough so you will feel guilty on your trek to class! You’re experienced at the game now, so you just chuckle realizing that it’s not getting to you anymore!

    You enter your Bible class, a dissheveled mess, and wonder how in the world everyone else can look so together when they’ve been down the same road you have. Then you look closely and realize, “They’re not any more together than I am!” Whew! You settle in for Bible class and recognize it’s such a blessing — if it’s boring, the Lord let’s you rest, and if it’s stimulating the Lord revives your heart. Either way, it’s a break! A precious break in the presence of the Lord. Unless, of course, you’re also teaching a Sunday school class for other little ones! If that’s so, then the Lord has a special place reserved in heaven for you next to the folks who had twins, triplets, quads... and who took their little ones to Sunday School and church each week. (I assure you, it’s calm, quiet, and clean in this section of heaven, and the angels wait on you hand and foot!)

Is it worth the effort? You bet it is.

    Is it worth the effort? You bet it is. Families that go to Sunday school together, who share a common church commitment and build their lives around a church family, are blessed in many ways for years to come. It’s not rock solid guarantee against problems with your kids, but it sure puts in place a great foundation, and a great place to return to, even if rebellion does mar your relationship with your kids as they grow older. Research and experience point overwhelmingly to the long term blessing of shared family faith!

    But really, how important is this experience?

    Vital! Absolutely crucial! God didn’t make us to be solo pilots on our trip to eternity. Instead, he chartered big planes to take us there so we could have the love, friendship, support, and joy of community on our journey. Sure, there are times when we suffer from cramped quarters or have to spend some time next to an unruly traveler, but the joy of the journey is enhanced when it is shared and the times of sorrow and softened by the support of friends who share our journey.

    I was never more firmly impressed by the importance of our Sunday experiences when we went through a real time of testing for our folks on their way to church — several major car wrecks, falls, and illnesses that all happened on the way to church. Satan will do what he can, when he can, to keep us from God’s people and our time of shared praise, fellowship, and care. Sometimes, in fact often times, he uses the weariness of just getting to church with our kids to discourage us. But we’re not going to let him win on this one!

    So, if you’re wondering if the Sunday morning, going to church drill is worth the effort, the answer is, “Yes!” And I assure you, if your focus in the sermon during this time of mayhem and madness is the back of your eye lids as you take your place among God’s holy ones on Sunday, both the preacher and the Lord understand. But please, don’t try to rest in the presence of the Lord until you’re in the seat, chair, or pew at church — it’s awfully hard to drive to church with your eyes closed and the kids screaming in the back back seat as you’re going to church.

Title: "We're Going to Church!"
Author: Phil Ware
Publication Date: April 9, 2001

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