It’s Time to Pull the Van Over

My family never had a mini van when I was growing up. We didn’t need one–there were only four of us. Even if we wanted one, they didn’t make mini vans back in the 60s and 70s. (I don’t know how large families transported themselves from point A to point B before the mid 80s.) My family needs a mini van now. There are eight of us when everyone is present and accounted for.

When we’re all together in the van and going somewhere, there are usually those instances when the kids start getting a bit rowdy. Maybe it’s arguing amongst themselves; maybe they’re just complaining about each other. As a self-declared tolerant and patient parent, I can put up with it for a while. (I’ve been told my tolerance level is higher than that of some parents.) But I still reach that point when I’ve taken all I can take and my blood begins to boil. I usually express some sort of threat in a loud volume using my “mean dad” voice. If that doesn’t work, I’ll use the classic line that was so often used on me by my parents when I was young: “If you guys don’t cut that out, I’m going to pull this van [car] over!”

Granted, I’ve only pulled the van over a couple times in my 19 years as a parent. But those times were necessary. I had taken all I could take. I could think of no other way to get through the thick skulls of my kids other than pull the van over and spank them! It’s not fun spanking kids. It’s painful. I truly understand now what my mother meant when she would tell me, “This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you.” I hate spanking my children. I’d rather eat sand. But it’s necessary on occasions in order to get their attention and curb improper behavior. And it usually works. My children are better for it. I’m a better man today because my parents cared enough about me to discipline me.

I think it’s time to pull the van over in some of our churches. Members who act like spoiled children by constantly bickering and complaining because things don’t look like they did 40 years ago in the church need to be disciplined. People in our churches who are dividing the body of Christ over matters of opinion need a good ol’ spiritual spanking! I’ve been in my respective denomination for over 40 years. I’ve seen a lot of changes in the church–positive and negative. I’ve let go of a lot of my traditions that my parents clinged to tightly for so long. Some of those traditions were good; some were stupid. Some I gladly turned loose of; others were almost pried out of my grasp. I’m far from perfect in this area of distinguishing between scripture and tradition. It’s not easy letting go of something you’ve believed to be God’s will and way for most of your life. But Paul did it! He went from one extreme to another. He was wise and mature enough to distinguish between scripture and tradition.

I grow tired of “mature” Christians being the ones who refuse to bend. I’m weary of seasoned Christians acting like babies because they can’t have their way. I’ve heard people who’ve been Christians for 50+ years say things like, “I’m a stock holder in this church!” or “I put most of my life into this church!” as a means of getting it their way. How this must grieve God! I’m convinced that Satan has done more damage to Christianity within the church than from without. And we wonder why we’re losing more people than we’re gaining.

If church leaders were more willing to pull the van over, maybe we would see our churches blossom and perhaps…just perhaps…we’d see some seasoned Christians repent and alter their bad behavior.

~ by hawkman64 on April 22, 2008.