Mother’s Day is May 11.
I’m a preacher’s kid, so growing up, I sat on a church pew every time the doors were open — and they were hard wooden things back then. Mom was pretty strict about attending church, and I’ve sat through about a million worship services, weddings, funerals, Vacation Bible Schools, Sunday School classes, revivals, youth rallies and more.
Along the way, my mom had some pretty tough rules that have mostly fallen out of fashion since those days. But after a few decades, I wonder if they weren’t so bad.
Here are a few of those rules:
1. Dress up: My mom felt that church was about honoring God, and looking right was a big part of that honor. I had a whole collection of clip-on ties, and she ensured I was dressed up before leaving the house. Today, even pastors preach in jeans and T-shirts, and the truth is, I love being casual. However, attorneys and other professionals have learned how your dress impacts your attitude and perception. As my mom said, it shouldn’t be about pride but about honoring God. Looking around most congregations these days, I wonder if we could use an occasional dose of my mom’s advice.
2. Pay attention: I got slapped a lot in church for not paying attention. Even as kids, my mom wouldn’t let us lay down on the church pew, draw in coloring books, or scribble on paper. We had to pay attention — which, if you know how easily distracted I am, was like a personal nightmare. But looking back, it taught me discipline and a remarkable amount of Bible teaching.
3. Send the babies to the nursery: Back then, we didn’t have a “Children’s Church.” All we had was a nursery for the babies, and my mom thought they should go. Nothing was more rude to her than parents allowing a screaming baby to interrupt the congregation’s worship. I thought about my mom last Sunday, sitting behind a young couple with a screaming baby who just sat there, and sat there, and sat there. What did the pastor preach about? I can’t remember.
4. If you show up late, sit in the back: Mom thought church wasn’t the same as a movie, concert, or classroom. It was Holy, and we need to respect that. Although 99% of the time, our family sat in the front row, if we showed up late for any reason, we sat in the back. She would never distract anyone from my dad’s message by walking down the aisle after the service had started.
5. Bring your Bible: My mom’s motto was “Buy a Bible, read it and underline it.” She never understood how people could come to church without their Bible. To her, it was like showing up at a baseball game without a bat. I’ve tried the “Pew Bible” and Bible apps on my phone, but for me, I can’t get my mom’s rule out of my head. So, I bring the real thing — marked up and all.
6. Sunday School matters: Few churches have Sunday School programs anymore, and I’m often surprised at the number of church members who think a weekly sermon is enough. Mom felt we needed to go deeper, and Sunday School was that place. Obviously, that was before many churches started to encourage small groups — although most small groups I’ve attended are more about “reflection,” “what’s new in my life” and “sharing.” My mom would probably puke.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally published by philcooke.com.
