Do I have to?

Children often gripe about the things they ‘have to do.’  Sometimes their list seems lengthy.  Parents who deal wisely with these gripes, not only convince the children to do the things they have to, but they actually help the children ‘want to’ do these things.  It’s not easy standing over our kids and helping them to grow up.  But it is what we do.  I remember one time my kids thought brushing their teeth was a waste of time and should not be a twice daily exercise.  So I brushed my teeth with them for a while.  I tried to have fun and coach them to brush all over.  But the thing that got their attention was when I explained that oral hygiene would favor them all their lives.  If they didn’t take care of their teeth now, when they are 20 or so they may still want to eat, but without teeth it would be hard.  Somehow, I convinced them tooth care would serve them well all their life.  But the lack of tooth care would be a pain and a discouragement all their life.

What does this have to do with anything about my spiritual development?  Well. Sometimes God’s kids ask, “Do I have to be a member of the church to be saved?:  That’s like asking, “do I have to be born to live.”  Sometimes God’s kids ask “do I have to go to church to be good?”  That’s like asking, “do I have to learn my abc’s to read and write?”  Or we ask, “Is church important?”  Which is like asking, “Why do I have to eat healthy food?”  Or we ask, “Is church necessary?”  Which is like asking “Do I have to graduate to get a job?”  Or we ask, “Is church required?”  Which is like asking, “Do I have to brush my teeth?”