Do we have the right to be constantly entertained?
I just had a conversation with my daughter about an AP class she will be taking next year. As she was lamenting about how difficult it will be, she commented that the teacher will lecture and she will actually have to take notes. Imagine that! There’s no Power Point presentation or videos. They will have to actually pay attention, listen carefully and take notes on the points that are important.
I mean clearly, this teacher has lost his mind. Right? That’s a crazy way to teach history. Never mind, that’s how it was taught when I was in school. I suspect some of the greatest minds around, like Bill Gates, for example, learned that way as well.
Our society has a true addiction to being entertained and our children are some of the biggest junkies. From the crib forward, they have come to expect to be entertained every waking moment of the day. And before we go casting judgement on them for expecting it, we better look in the mirror at ourselves. We have given them Leap Pads, ipads, computer games, Wii systems and limitless television channels since birth. Then we are shocked when they can’t sit still for ten minutes and draw a picture or read a book.
I’ve seen seven-year-olds with smart phones.Why does a seven-year old possibly need a smart phone? Our schools try hard to teach in an entertaining method too. They have to compete, right?
Churches have entered the fray as well. Parents will tell Sunday school leaders or youth ministers that their child doesn’t enjoy coming to church. It’s not fun for them, so they don’t attend.
Enter the mega church. It’s high energy. It’s fun. There are a ton of kids. It’s like Vacation Bible School every Sunday. Don’t get me wrong here. I love Vacation Bible School. It’s probably my favorite ministry. But, and it’s a big but; it’s an introduction to Jesus. It’s meant to plant seeds. It’s doesn’t go very deep. If you lived on vacation, it wouldn’t be vacation.
But they love it, the parents say. Kids love ice cream too, but we don’t let them eat it everyday.
I’m not saying all mega churches are superficial. I have no way of knowing that. I can say that it’s difficult to build community among thousands. I can say when there’s a paid staff to do everything, members can become complacent when it comes to service. I didn’t say they always do, just that it’s much easier to not be involved when you don’t have to. That’s simply our nature.
My mom never asked me if I wanted to go to school or church. Attendance was required at both. Whether or not I found them fun wasn’t up for discussion. Parents didn’t used to be in the business of providing fun. They were in the business of growing decent educated human beings and Christian education was considered every bit as important as school. It was an unspoken requirement.
The Bible says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6 I wasn’t constantly entertained as a child and church certainly wasn’t always fun, yet I’m still attending. Hmmmm, maybe King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, was onto something when he wrote that.
I’m all for church being relevant and entertaining for kids. But in the end, as Christians, it’s about teaching the truth and sometimes that’s just not fun, neither are immunizations, but we get them because they keep us safe. Our souls need that kind of care as well.
I never met anyone who said, “I really wish I didn’t take my kids to church when they were growing up.” That’s all I’m sayin’. What are your thoughts on our entertainment addiction? I’d love to hear from you.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂