by Stan Mitchell

"We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, the power, and wonders he has done" (Psalm 78:4).

On the way home the little boy sat quietly in the back seat. Then mom noticed he had started to cry.

"Why Johnny, whatever can be the matter?"

"Today," the distraught boy began, "the preacher said all children should be in a Christian family."

"So why did that upset you?"

"Because," the little fellow answered, "I want to stay with you and dad!"

What makes a family "Christian"? There are, apparently, some families that assume they are Christian. To this young fellow, his parent's Christianity wasn't obvious; do you suppose he was wrong, or do our kids have a pretty good idea about what is first in our lives?

Who is first in your life? Jesus Christ, you say? Then do you move your weekly schedule around to accommodate him at worship and Bible class? When the heat of summer rolls around, does your attendance cool off? When someone in church says something you don't like, do you abandon Christ and his church? Do you read your Bible and pray to God daily? Are there habits within your home life that would contradict your fine words and actions on a Sunday, such as profanity, alcoholism, anger, or constant derision directed at the church?

Don't answer those question. Ask them to your children. They will know. The Lord does, too.