Is Going to Church Important For My Children?
Mom rushed around the house, busy getting both herself and a 2-year-old ready. Going to church has always been a weekly occurrence for my family, but this morning, unusual events spoiled the normalcy—I shoved Fruit Loops up my nose.
So there I was … sitting in the pew sneezing out rainbows, but nonetheless, I was in church.
Taking your children to church won’t always go according to plan. But in the end, it doesn’t matter if they look prim and proper or if they squirm and fuss in anticipation for lunch, as long as they’re there.
Why should I take my children to church?
I didn’t always want to attend youth group in middle school, because I had a hard time making friends and getting along with the other girls. But church—whether Sunday services or youth group on Wednesday—was not optional for my family. So I went, sometimes when I really didn’t want to.
Now, I am incredibly grateful I did. I can’t imagine what my life would look like had I not been raised going to church, but I can only assume my love for Christ and His people would have diminished.
Going to church is important for both the spiritual and moral formation of a child. Your children are under great influence from the world. Lies about sexuality, gender, and what dictates their identity are presented to them as truth. Sin—such as sex, cheating, and disobeying authority—is made attractive by social media influencers and their peers.
A 2019 study showed children are most susceptible to social influence beginning at age 12 through their teenage years. Laying a biblical foundation through going to church gives your child truth to counter the lies during these impressionable years. Of course, there’s no guarantee your child won’t make poor decisions and stray. But you wouldn’t avoid eating healthy food because one day you might get sick, right? Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
So parents, take your kids to church. Let them soak up Scripture and the praise of His people.
This article was taken from Family Life newsletter and written by Hannah Salyer. More from this article will appear over the next few weeks. For the full article visit familylife.com
Blessings on your week and worship.
Michelle Gerlach, Family Life
