"Parenting in the Pew" Chapters 1-2

(My Overview) " Parenting in the Pew" 

By:Robbie Castleman

Forward by: Ruth Bell Graham

Chapter One:

I am sure we all find it easy (not purposely) to miss the truly important moments of life. Distraction, busyness, and the clamor of worry about future things rob us of what God may be up to in the present moment of our lives. We usually see the the significant minutes, the turning point of our lives, from a distance. Then we pause in wonder and mutter, "Ahh, little did I realize how important that was at the time."

So, Paying attention Pays off...

Worship can be one of the times when we parents would like to pay attention to something other than our children. Kids can be distracting, aggravating, and embarrassing in church. Parenthood can make sitting in a pew a lot of work. Paying attention to our children can make us less attentive to the service. The temptation of staying home or keeping the kids out of the sanctuary are real. It is hard to pay attention to God and children at the same time.

Training children to pay attention to God, is important.

Very few of us have ever been trained to truly worship. You have probably just learned to be quiet, take notes, and ask ourselves" what one thing can I take home from this?"

Well, I am sorry to say that is NOT worship.

" Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10) This verse begins to define the difference between "going to church" and "going to worship." Going to worship requires a life-transformation and happens out of new heart, not an old habit.

Think about this and why MANY poeple go to Church: (We can just go to church b/c it is good for us, benefits us, good for our image, great for business, puts our week right, and b/c we like the music. We can settle for going to church b/c it is "GOOD FOR US AND THE RIGHT THING TO DO.") Does this sound familiar?

Well, Worship is the righteous of reasons. Worship doesn't come naturally to us humans. God had to train the nation of Israel to worship. He went to great lengths to teach his people how he deserved to be honored and loved and known.

God desires our worship. He commands it. His Word trains us in how to love him, how to worship him. The children of Israel, we and our children must be trained to worship.

Chapter 2

 

The Meaning of Worship:

Worship is not a refueling to get us through another week. Worship is not a system of traditions built up over many years of congregational life until everyone feels comfortable. Worship is not time to unwind, relax, tune out or take a mental vacation. Worship is not an hour of Christian entertainment. It is not what makes us good poeple, faithful Christians or successful parents.

Worship is the the surrender of our souls to a God who is jealous for our attention, time and love. Worship is a challenge. 

As parents we need to show by example what it means to seek God, to love his Son and to respond to the Holy Spirit in worship. 

"Worship is for God's Glory, Not My Benefit"

To many adults who learned how to be quiet in church are still doing that. And many of them are passing this along to their children. A family can learn to sit still very well, but be unmoved by the holy presence of God.

God wants us to "be still and know" him. 

I think this saying sums it up:

 

" When (Jesus) came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices... Some of the Pharisees in the crows said to Jesus, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples!' 'I tell you,' he replied, ' if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.' Luke19:37-40

Parenting in the pew is the process of putting a few rocks out of work!