A father is perplexed by his children’s reluctance to attend worship
services while they are on vacation.
His question is addressed another, sympathetic parent:
Q: "Making our kids go to church when we’re on vacation is like pulling
teeth. They whine, "Why do we have to go
to church? We’re on vacation!" My
wife and I are often tempted to give in, but we really do want to maintain
our ritual of worshiping every Sunday. Do you have any suggestions?
A: The problem you raise is one so common to parents, especially parents
of teen-age children. Kids and adults alike frequently feel conspicuous and
out of place in a strange congregation. My husband and I have struggled with
this ourselves for years, and I have a few suggestions that may work for
your family.
Consider using the Sunday morning worship service as an educational
opportunity. Try attending a congregation that worships in a style different
from your own, even a denomination that you are unfamiliar with. If you’re a
Protestant, visit a Catholic church for a change, or a congregation
different ethnic background. Most churches welcome visitors of all
backgrounds. My husband frequently relates his enjoyable experience in a
Chinese bilingual Protestant church while in Chicago. He was warmly welcomed
and was even invited to stay for a potluck suppers afterwards, which he
described as a great Chinese buffet.
You can also consider visiting a service in a historic church, or in a
church which offers something unusual in the way of fine arts. While in
Europe we visited a number of services where we couldn’t understand the
language, but we took in the beauty fo the cathedrals and the exquisite
music. Adults as well as older children will be struck with the fact that
our Christian family stretches all over the globe, encompassing many
languages and cultures.
Another option is to design your worship service. Find a quiet place in
your hotel or outdoors, perhaps in a nice picnic area or in an especially
scenic setting. Many people feel closer to God in the midst of His creation
than in the most beautiful of churches. Read scriptures or share some
devotional material together. Talk about what you’ve read. Younger children
can act out the stories themselves or with their toys. Or you might sing
some choruses–but be sensitive with this one. My girls would sooner die than
sing praise choruses with their parents in a public place, no matter how
empty it may appear!
I’m particularly fond of reading devotional materials that relate to our
destination. For example, if our day includes a trip to the zoo, we might
cover Noah’s Ark. If our day includes mountain biking, we might cover Moses’
mountaintop experience receiving the ten commandments. Or if we’re visiting
San Diego, I might research beforehand what San Diego’s name means in
English, and why the city might have been named after him.
As parents you and your wife have every right to put your foot down and
insist on going to church. But I believe that as parents we have the
responsibility of teaching our children that worship is more than a duty to
be endured; it should be an opportunity that we can look forward to and
enjoy. Experiment with a variety of options and find the solution that works
best for your family.
Amy Eckert is president of The Christian Traveler, a multi-media
publishing company specializing in travel information for Christians. She is
the author of The Christian Traveler’s Companion guidebook series.