Galatians 4:12-20

Galatians 4:19-20   “My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, I wish I were present with you now and could change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.”

 

 

Parenting is an eternal challenge.  No matter how young or old our children are, they are always on our minds.  My 76-year-young mother can still make me feel like I was 10 all over again with just a word or two over the telephone.  The hold is one that will never quite break, despite the miles that separate us now.  By the same token, I’m certain that my siblings and I still occasionally are a cause for heartache and concern on her part.

I think it has to do with the responsibilities we claim in raising children.  We teach our children how to live in the world, give them guidance on how to cope and then, even if we don’t want to, turn them loose on the world.  A part of us goes with them wherever they go, and never leaves.

The same should be true of our children in faith.  Each one of us (at least in my faith tradition) makes a vow at the baptism of a child to raise and nurture that child in faith.  In effect we are promising to be the faith parent of every new Christian we baptize. 

Paul took that vow seriously.  He never hesitated to claim almost parental prerogatives over the churches and individuals he helped bring to Christ.  And when they strayed, Paul grew perplexed about them. 

Would our churches look different if we took the same stance with those we baptize?  Especially people who drop off the radar after high school or college and fall away from church altogether.  Do we have the right in Christ’s name to be that tiny voice of God calling them back?  I believe we do.  I am convinced that we have not just a right but a responsibility to remind those we baptize, with love and parental care, of God’s love for them and our desire to be supportive in their walk with Christ.   Perhaps church won’t be such a non-player in their lives if we make the effort.

 

Precious Lord, our hearts ache and we are perplexed when one of your sheep strays.  We pray, that filled with your love and guided by the Spirit we may be your tiny voice to them, calling them home to you.  Help us to fulfill the pledges we make to be “parents” to children in faith.  This we ask in Christ’s name.  Amen.