LIE #6: ''CHURCH MUST BE FUN FOR MY CHILD.'' (6 OF 10)
Scripture: Psalm 78:1-8, Matthew 18:1-5, Mark 10:13-16
This content is part of a series.
Lie #6: ''Church Must Be Fun for My Child.'' (6 of 10)
Series: Lies Parents Tell Themselves
Wyman Richardson
Psalm 78:1-8; Matthew 18:1-5; Mark 10:13-16
One cannot help but feel like a bit of a killjoy listing this as a lie. For my part, there also looms the possible charge of hypocrisy. After all, I am a big fan of fun. I am a big fan of my child having fun. I am a big fan of my child and her parents having fun with the people of God. I speak as an unapologetic laugher. I have never been averse to fun and the trappings of fun and I rather think it pleases the heart of our Father to see His children rejoice, play and laugh. I do not think that those who know me would characterize my personality or my preaching as crushingly stoic or devoid of mirth. I am as likely to laugh as to cry, and I feel that life gets off the rails when we fail to do either.
Why, then, would I list this as a lie: ''Church must be fun for my child''? It is because I have the lurking suspicion that there has been a subtle shift in the way we think of church and in what we have come to expect the church to be and to provide for our children. In short, I believe there is a tremendous difference between the statement, ''Church is often great fun for my child,'' and, ''The church must be fun for my child.'' The former statement is an observation about a reality (a very good reality!). The latter statement is a consumeristic demand for an entertaining product. The former statement is a simple truth for which I thank God. The latter is a distorting demand that is wreaking havoc in the body of Christ today.
The Strange Situation in Which We Find Ourselves
So help me, I cannot help but feel a bit uneasy when I read advertisements for churches today. Let me share a few (without attribution of the sources). These are real advertisements and promotional pieces for churches.
''We believe that church should be about developing healthy relationships-with God and ourselves and each other ...
Series: Lies Parents Tell Themselves
Wyman Richardson
Psalm 78:1-8; Matthew 18:1-5; Mark 10:13-16
One cannot help but feel like a bit of a killjoy listing this as a lie. For my part, there also looms the possible charge of hypocrisy. After all, I am a big fan of fun. I am a big fan of my child having fun. I am a big fan of my child and her parents having fun with the people of God. I speak as an unapologetic laugher. I have never been averse to fun and the trappings of fun and I rather think it pleases the heart of our Father to see His children rejoice, play and laugh. I do not think that those who know me would characterize my personality or my preaching as crushingly stoic or devoid of mirth. I am as likely to laugh as to cry, and I feel that life gets off the rails when we fail to do either.
Why, then, would I list this as a lie: ''Church must be fun for my child''? It is because I have the lurking suspicion that there has been a subtle shift in the way we think of church and in what we have come to expect the church to be and to provide for our children. In short, I believe there is a tremendous difference between the statement, ''Church is often great fun for my child,'' and, ''The church must be fun for my child.'' The former statement is an observation about a reality (a very good reality!). The latter statement is a consumeristic demand for an entertaining product. The former statement is a simple truth for which I thank God. The latter is a distorting demand that is wreaking havoc in the body of Christ today.
The Strange Situation in Which We Find Ourselves
So help me, I cannot help but feel a bit uneasy when I read advertisements for churches today. Let me share a few (without attribution of the sources). These are real advertisements and promotional pieces for churches.
''We believe that church should be about developing healthy relationships-with God and ourselves and each other ...
There are 24578 characters in the full content. This excerpt only shows a 2000 character sample of the full content.
Price: $5.99 or 1 credit
