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Do I Have To Go To Church?
Christian thoughts on every day parenting.
by Donna Shepherd
All materials copyrighted
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Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
-- Acts 20:7
When I was a little girl, my mother spent Saturday nights washing, drying, and ironing outfits, and hanging them in our rooms. She
polished five pairs of children’s shoes and laid out our socks. She did this so that the next morning, there would be no discussion on
whether we were attending church or arguments about what we would wear. We simply put on our clothes and piled into the car for Sunday
School and church.
These days it seems the prevailing attitude is that church attendance is optional. With Christian programming aired 24/7 on television,
radio, and Internet, many people feel there’s no need to physically go to a church service. Why not worship at home?
I must preface all that follows by saying that I am in the ministry. My husband and I pastor a church, so of course I feel church
attendance is necessary. But long before I entered the ministry, I held the attitude, instilled in me by my mother, that staying home on
Sundays was not an option. So why go to church?
To encourage one another:
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and
all the more as you see the Day approaching.” We encourage each other in the Body of Christ when we assemble in His name. We build our
relationship with God and with others, and we are influenced and become like the people we associate with.
To praise and worship God:
There’s something special about communion with God in the presence of the Body of Christ. Corporate worship edifies the members
individually and the Body as a whole. It’s also important to worship as a family.
For support and prayer:
When you miss church, you miss the opportunity to bring requests before God and the body of Christ. When going through trials, do your
children hear you whine and complain, or do you turn to God and His people for support? People call for help when a loved one has died
or an illness has fallen on a family member, and the church rallies around them, loving and praying for them.
Why not make it a habit to write down prayer requests with your children before church?
For pure enjoyment:
If you enjoy going to church, most likely your kids will think of church in a positive way, too. I love to sing, so part of my enjoyment
is singing with others and singing solos. I know that many of my best friends will be there, so I’m always eager to see them. As a
little girl, my best friends went to my church, and in my teens, attended the youth activities with me.
Psalm 122:1 – “I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
For instruction:
When I was nine years old, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I credit a Sunday School teacher as being the one who helped me to
understand my need for salvation. If your church has a Sunday School program, I charge you parents to take your children.
On Sundays, we are fed God’s Word through the lessons taught and the sermons brought by the pastor. The apostle Paul told Timothy,
“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
We are corrected, rebuked, and encouraged by the instruction we receive.
To help others:
Churches have missionary and outreach programs. Teach your children to give. God blesses givers. Teach children to think of others by
participating in the programs such as those that feed and clothe those less fortunate. We support the church through our tithes and
offerings. We help the church to grow and remain strong and healthy.
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body,
joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”
(Ephesians 4:15-16 niv).
We need each other.
To teach commitment and faithfulness:
Parents might rationalize their staying home on Sundays by claiming they’ll teach their children all they need to know about God and
the Bible. While possible, how many parents actually sit down with their children to teach them about Jesus? Isn’t it easier to sleep
in, read the Sunday paper, go out to brunch, and forget that Sunday is supposed to be all about honoring God? God established one day
for worship from the very beginning. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy” (Exodus 20:8 niv).
It will be much easier to teach our children about loyalty to friends and commitment to spouses and in business if we have been an
example of faithfulness in the most important relationship – our walk with God.
BUSY Parents Tip
Can’t we find at least an hour or two in a week to dedicate to God and the Body of Christ? Let’s go to church!
About The Author:
Donna J. Shepherd is the author of several children's books, including No More Gunk & OUCH! Sunburn
and Dotty's Tospy Tale.
From bird watching to the Beatitudes, her writing touches the heart with wisdom and humor while feeding the mind with
daily portions of God's Word. Read more of her writing at Donna J. Shepherd.
Information provided in this column is for entertainment purposes only.
The information in this column is not meant to be taken as legal, medical, or professional advice.
Read legal disclaimer.
* This column is available for your publication, for a F-E-E.
This column may NOT be reprinted without monetary compensation and written permission from the author.
For reprint rights or comments/questions about this article, please contact the author.
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