Hey! Your Kids Are Sinners!

Don’t you dare believe what all the nice older ladies in your church say about your kids and mine.

Your kids are sinners!!!

I know there are times when my wife would wish our kids would sit still, face the front and let her get the most out of the Divine Service. I have parents apologizing to me that their child was disruptive during the worship service. I assure them that the only kids that I notice causing a commotion are my own. Whether your children are crying or don’t want to sit still or only want to play – they need to be in God’s House of worship.

Why?

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). You need to bring your children to church so they might receive Jesus’ invitation. In every worship service, your child is reminded of the day she was brought into God’s family through Baptism. She hears Christ’s voice forgiving her sins when she hears the pastor’s voice speak the words of Absolution. She understands the importance of the Lord’s Supper when she sees you receiving Christ’s body and blood. She appreciates the work of Christ on the cross … FOR HER!

Why would you ever want to keep these gifts from your children?

So why should we insist on teaching our kids about these great gifts from God? Why even go to church? What can we do as parents to teach our children how important church life is?

First, our children need to understand that they are sinners. In fact we are all sinners – Mom, Dad and, yes, even your pastor is a sinner. We need to talk about forgiving each other and Jesus forgiving you. As they grow we must continue to impart to them that they will continue to sin and fall short of how God intends us to live. Sugar coating this life, our sin and the world we live in today isn’t going to help our kids grow in faith. They must be shown their sin and also shown that there is only one way that sin is defeated.

Second, children need faithful parents – parents who know their stuff. They need the kind of parents who will bring church into the home – before meals, before bed. How about a Bible story instead of cartoons? How about prayers instead of i-Pods? As parents, the devil will attack us with all sorts of lies. “Hey, you got the kid baptized that should be enough to keep them believing in Christ.” “Don’t worry about it, you’re a busy person. You have a lot of other things that are important, too. Attending church once a month is enough.” “Your kids are confirmed, now you can let them decide if they want to attend to worship.” Think about your own sin and how the devil constantly attacks you. How do you think he will treat our children?

The fact of the matter is, parents have a huge impact on their children. They look up to us, even if they may not admit it. If we aren’t attending church every week, if we look bored in church or don’t listen, if we aren’t attending Bible Classes or making our children attend Sunday School and Teen Bible Classes, if we aren’t being active in our church life, what kind of message does that send? It tells them that church is a part-time gig, far less important than school and other activities.

Third, children need to see their parents at church as beggars before God, confessing their sins and receiving forgiveness. Church should be taken seriously by parents to show their children that sin is real and deserves punishment. They need to have their sins exposed. They need to know their sins were placed on Christ’s cross. They need to hear – over and over and over again – that Jesus has removed their sins, their guilt is gone and heaven has already been won for them. They need to hear these things, not just once in a while, not just in school, but daily in the home and weekly in worship. If you are serious about wanting your child to remain a Christian throughout her life, worshiping weekly and raising your grandchildren in church … then it begins with you. And it begins now. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

The four weeks of Advent are all about exposing our sin and exposing us to our Savior from that sin. We have our regular Sunday services, but we also have special midweek Advent services. The time and length of these midweek Advent services are specifically designed for families with young children. The worship time is 6:30 pm, early in the evening, but not too early. The service lasts between 40-45 minutes, long enough to sing, pray and meditate on God’s Word, but not too long for tired children.

Make a plan to attend each of these three special midweek Advent services on December 5, 12 and 19. Turn on a crock pot before you leave for work. Have your children do their homework and chores immediately after school. Our WLS and Shoreland teachers and coaches intentionally do not give as much homework and do not have late practices on Wednesdays in Advent. Most public schools also lighten the loads because they realize that Wednesdays are often a “church night.” Eat a quick supper, come to church and then put the kids to bed. Show your children that you need to be in God’s house as much as they do.

So the next time that nice old lady at the end of the pew tells you how great your kids are be sure to tell her that they are sinners just like you and me – which is good, because Jesus only came for sinners.

And, if you are a sinner, then Advent services are for you. If your child is a sinner, then Sunday morning and Wednesday evening Advent services are for them. After all, Advent is for sinners.

 

Special Worship Opportunities for Your Family

Midweek Advent

Wednesdays on Dece 5, 12 and 19 at 6:30 pm

 

Christmas Eve

Monday, Dec 24 at 5:00 pm

 

Christmas Day

Tuesday, Dec 25 at 9:00 am

 

Epiphany Festival

Monday, Jan 7 at 6:30 pm