A couple months ago, I was going into the sanctuary of my church for Sunday service and I when I entered, I noticed the church was completely packed. Seats were full all the way to the back and people were even sitting in the aisles. What is this? I wondered to myself. It’s not Easter or Christmas. I looked around and noticed everyone had their videocameras and digital cameras at the ready and then…. I knew.

In a single file line, our church’s first and second graders all filed into the front of the sanctuary and lined up in neat rows. When they all found their place, all of the cameras switched on and flashed and suddenly I felt like I was in a press conference as lights strobed all around me. The young children squeaked out a couple of cute songs and then when they finished, they filed out the same way they came in so that the Sunday service could continue.

After the children finished many of the people there, presumably parents and relatives of the children, packed up their cameras and left right in the middle of the Sunday service! I stood there speechless with my mouth dangling open as we were instructed to turn to our first hymn in a now half-full room. These people had not come to worship, they had come here for their children. (I can only assume, based on our church’s extensive children’s church that it’s *not* like the children had nowhere to go after their singing.)

I can’t fault our church’s leadership. Presenting the children to sing a cute, charming praise song certainly isn’t out of place in a worship service, but I was troubled by what I saw. I fear that many of the members of my congregation are falling prey to worshipping a new idol, their very own families. The American church, I fear, is exchanging worship of a Holy God for “a good family time.” I’ve heard several people comment about my church, “well, we go there because of their wonderful children’s ministry.” I’m not sure I can comprehend those kind of priorities. Is the church that has the coolest youth group really the driving factor in choosing your church? I hope God is at least a factor in coming to church, but sometimes I wonder if some parents are merely here just so they have a safe place they can drop their kids. Even our local Christian radio station’s billboards in Atlanta now say “Safe For The Whole Family” and save a fish logo, would give you no indication that they have anything to do with God, Jesus, or anything relating to Christianity.

I don’t have children, so obviously I don’t understand the struggles that parents face in protecting their children and I know it’s a struggle. But I fear, in our over-reaction to the world which cares not for God, we are too eager to exchange good for safe, and our God is not safe. I hope I don’t one day have to choose between a church where God wants my family to be and where my children want to be, but if I have to make that choice….