Scriptural Sermons

There are any number of reasons for us to bring our children to church. One reason could be labeled socio-religious. This reason is essentially a practical one. It goes to the perpetuation of our religion. If succeeding generations are not churched, the church will, obviously, erode, and erode eventually into non-existence. There is added urgency to this reason at the present time, because in this nation at least, in fact the succeeding generations are not churched. They have actually been dubbed “the unchurched;” and, in fact, the church is eroding. At any rate, the Bible recognizes this reason. We heard it recognized in our Old Testament lesson from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses had led the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage to the border of the Promised Land. Now on his deathbed, he charged them, their children, and their children’s children to observe the law he had given them. And why? Because the people of Israel were entering the Promised Land to become a religious nation, and to become a religious nation the succeeding generations had to observe the law. Then there is a reason to bring our children to church that could be labeled personal. It goes to the welfare of our children. What better way to promote the welfare of our children then by giving them a set of convictions from which to operate in life? I deal with the so-called “unchurched” on a regular basis. There are exceptions, of course, but my experience is that they are not given, in the absence of a set of religious convictions, a set of secular convictions. They are given very little in the way of convictions at all. What convictions they form are impressionistic and unexamined – usually derived from the pseudo-wisdom of popular culture. And let’s face it: people of all ages need convictions. Convictions give people understanding, purpose, direction, and motivation. Again, the Bible recognizes this reason. We heard it recognized in our Psalter lesson. It is recognized too throughout the Bible’s wisdom tradition. The way the Bible states it is that if you teach a child to follow in God’s way -- right from wrong, left from right – you teach a child the means to sound living. And the set of convictions our children will be given have to do not only with this life, but with eternal life. Our children will hear eternal life proclaimed again and again in church, for indeed it is the very crux of the gospel; it is the meaning and import of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And if our children are convicted of eternal life, they will never be lost to fear, despair, and senselessness. They will be given the basis for courage, optimism, and hope. And of course, the Bible recognizes this reason. We heard it recognized in this morning’s epistle lesson from the book of Romans. In Paul’s immortal words, “I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing to the glory about to be revealed to us.” Paul realizes, of course, that a set of convictions from which to operate in this life are not enough, for the sufferings in this life are too great. But too, Paul realizes, the sufferings in this life will be overcome by eternal life. Yes, there are any number of reasons for us to bring our children to church, and indeed, they are all good ones. But they aren’t the best one. The best one has to do with truth. We come to church, we practice this religion, not necessarily because we believe that this church or this religion is in perfect accord with truth. As Paul reminds us in the book of Galatians, “all things are imprisoned under the power of sin,” and they are: even this church and this religion. But we come to church because we believe in the God that stands above this church and this religion is in perfect accord with truth. He is the truth to which the whole cosmos accedes -- to which all history has acceded, and to which the future will accede. He is the truth which is inviolable, try as we might in our pride to violate it. And if we don’t take our children to church they will not be exposed to it this truth. They will not be able to learn it. They will not be able to affirm it. They will not be able to defend it. And they will not be able to live it. And this truth is the highest thing there is. It is higher than the perpetuation of our religion. Our religion should not be perpetuated, in fact, if it does not align with this truth. It is higher than our personal welfare, indeed our welfare may well be sacrificed for it, and sacrificed rightly. And this truth can not be assimilated instantaneously . It can only be assimilated slowly, in time – week by week, year by year. There are no shortcuts. This is one lesson life has taught me. There are no shortcuts. In grief, every tear must be cried. In a journey, every step must be taken. In an accomplishment, every effort must be made. And for children to assimilate this truth, we must bring them to church. In this morning’s gospel lesson, Jesus on the heels of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem entered the temple precincts. What he saw there enraged him. It was like some crass and boisterous carnival. Salesmen and money changers were hawking their wares, crowds were bargaining for their offerings. And so he overturned their tables and dispersed them; and crying with all the zeal of the first prophet to utter these words, “My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a den of robbers.” And what was the upshot of this scene? The chief priests and scribes were indignant, but the children cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna!” The children, even in these circumstances recognized the truth. For some reason, children have this facility. They can recognize the truth. In can only be the way God made them. And so let us give our children that truth. Amen.