Chuck E. Cheese and a Theology of Parenting, Part I

I had lunch last week at Chuck E. Cheese’s. This is an inevitable stop along the way of life when you have a strong marriage relationship that has resulted with God’s blessing of four children. The kids want the pizza…the red or orange drink provided at such establishments…the fun maze and slide and climbing obstacle toys…and, of course, the video games. I thank God for men and women that dreamed such things. My wallet is not so happy!

There was a time when I believed that such places (i.e. McDonalds playland, any fast food restaurant play ground, etc.) were nothing more than a place for parents to put there bad parenting skills on display for all the world. It does not take long for children to engage with one another and yell and push and generally act bad when it comes to deciding who got to the “Whack-a-mole” game first!

However, I have lightened up considerably in light of the fact that I now have four kids that do not always act as I wish. Thankfully, Kathy and I can use going to Chuck E. Cheese’s as an opportunity to teach our kids in how to think rightly (and biblically) about the world and those that live in it. We have paused in the midst of the fun to thank the Lord for the pizza he generously supplies along with the day’s activities. We thank him we are a family and that we have the blessing of playing air hockey together.

There have also been those moments when we have had to direct our kids to showing mercy by waiting on a smaller child. Lessons on forgiveness have been taught and discussed in a restaurant booth when someone has been hurt or pushed or had a toy from the happy meal taken. Kathy and I have redirected whining to thankfulness when we consider that many children in our area did not get to enjoy what we took for granted. Chuck E. Cheese’s is perhaps not the greatest of God’s blessings—some dad’s might even call it a curse—nonetheless, it demonstrates the constant need my children have of having their hearts touched by both the instruction and example of me and my wife. Granted, they are probably not even thinking about this at all but Scripture makes one thing clear, I sure as heck need to be thinking about it.

This was particularly true for the Israelites as they prepared to cross over into the Promised Land after forty years of wondering of the desert. In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the people that they are folks in covenant relationship with God. First, it was essential for them to remember and practice the covenant law in order for them to know the best blessing possible in the place God had in store for them. Second, it was imperative that the adults make the covenant known to their children. As Moses says in Deuteronomy 6:1-3,

“Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the Lord your God
commanded me to teach you, that you do them in the land to which you are going
over, to possess it, that you may fear the Lord you God, you and your son and your
son’s son, by keeping all his statues and his commandments, which I command you,
all the days of your life, and that you days may be long. Here, therefore, O Israel,
and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you...”

When you peruse Deuteronomy 6, three essentials are clear that Christian parents do well in practicing in teaching their own children and in creating a “God-ward” environment in their home.

First, the Israelites needed to hear what God said and decide it was important. Bottom-line: Did the Israelites cherish their relationship in such a way that they desired to love God by keeping his commands and then making sure that they instructed their children in that way. If for nothing else, it was important for Israel to embrace the law in order “that it may go well with you...” (Dt. 6:3) It is utterly clear that Moses was communicating to the Israelites—PAY ATTENTION TO THIS! IT IS NOT OPTIONAL! IT IS CENTRAL!

Actually, they had had forty years to think about it!

It seems to me that in a very real way that Christian parents reveal their level of love for Christ by the way they parent their children. Parenting has a way of showing what is most important to a mom or dad. Their frame of reference comes through in the decisions they make in regards to their kids. In other words, there is something driving their parenting style.

Let me say this. No parent can bring their children into a relationship with God—that is his job alone. However, mom and dad greatly influence many of the ways that kids think of God. It seems so clear that God’s design is for dad and mom to be the main spiritual influencers in little Jimmy and Jane’s life. If spiritual direction and training and nurture is happening in your home it is because the truth of Deuteronomy 6:5-6 is taking root in your heart,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be
on your heart.”

When one becomes a follower of Christ, he or she has considered the cost and answered that gracious call by responding in faith. The follower of Christ has affections that are set on Christ. Those affections translate by seeping over into the relationships of the Christ-follower and the primary relationship is with each other’s spouse and then, with children that God may give.

If you are a mom or dad, is your life in Christ such that you have completely embraced its importance and the impact it will have on your children in witness of word and deed? Decide that influencing your children for Christ is important!

I’ll speak more on this topic in the next entry. God bless you parents as God gives you opportunity to impact your children’s hearts!