The story is told of a mother who was cleaning house one day when she heard the water running in the upstairs bathroom. So she naturally went to investigate. When she reached the top of the stairs, through the open bathroom door, she could see her son holding one of his sister’s baby dolls above a nearly full bathtub saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and in the hole you go.”

Well, it goes without saying that this young boy had been exposed to church, but had not really comprehended what it was all about. However, in spite of his lack of understanding, children playing church is a good thing. It certainly beats some of the alternatives that are available these days. But there comes a time when we reach adulthood and we need to quit “playing” church and realize it’s not a game.

Intellectually, we know that, but practically, we need to be reminded. For how much difference is there in the boy in the above illustration and the adult who doesn’t pay attention to the content of the words he sings? How much difference is there in the boy described above and the adult who day-dreams during the sermon and prayers? Both are “playing” church, aren’t they?

Friends, it may be a long time since you last baptized a baby doll in a bathtub, but it might not be so long since the last time you “played church.” Give it some thought.

–Steve Higginbotham