Family Worship by GEO. O. STATES

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 9, 1915

Family Worship

By GEO. O. STATES

GEO. O. STATES

Circumstances were such that I had to spend a week with a family that I had known about twenty-five years. They were professedly Christians, and were members of the leading church. During all the time I was with them, they always asked me to give thanks at the table, but not once did they read the Bible and conduct family worship. I was very much surprised, but said nothing, feeling that as they were active church members, they should have family worship or else ask me to conduct it.

While visiting them I dreamed that a fine-looking man appeared in my room and said, “Why, Elder States, are you going to visit this family for a week and not once have family worship?” I replied, “They are leading church workers, and should have their family worship or else ask me to conduct it.” The reply was, “Yes, but you are an old man, and a minister should be an ensample to the flock.”

I felt sad to think I had been there so long and never mentioned family worship, and before leaving I told them my

dream. The man said he had thought about it every night, and wished I would read a chapter and have prayer. The Spirit of the Lord came into that home as I knelt with them in worship. I felt that my talk made a strong impression on their minds.

I am sad indeed as I realize that there are homes among our people in which, in the rush of business, no time is taken to gather the children around the family altar night and morning and plead for the protection of heavenly angels. The servant of the Lord has given us the following testimony:—

“By sincere, earnest prayer parents should make a hedge about their children. They should pray with full faith that God will abide with them, and that holy angels will guard them and their children from Satan’s cruel power.

“In every family there should be a fixed time for morning and evening worship. How appropriate it is for parents to gather their children about them before the fast is broken, to thank the Heavenly Father for his protection during the night, and to ask him for his help and guidance and watch care during the day! How fitting, also, when evening comes, for parents and children to gather once more before him, and thank him for the blessings of the day that is past! The father, and, in his absence, the mother, should conduct the worship, selecting a portion of Scripture that is interesting and easily understood. The service should be short. . . .

“Fathers and mothers, make the hour of worship intensely interesting. There is no reason why this hour should not be the most pleasant and enjoyable of the day. A little thought given to preparation for it will enable you to make it full of interest and profit. From time to time let the service be varied. Questions may be asked on the portion of Scripture read, and a few earnest, timely remarks may be made. A song of praise may be sung. The prayer offered should be short and pointed. In simple, earnest words let the one who leads in prayer praise God for his goodness and ask him for help. As circumstances permit, let the children join in the reading and the prayer. Eternity alone will reveal the good with which such seasons of worship are fraught.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. VII, pages 43, 44.

Over sixty years ago my mother embraced the third angel’s message, being among the first in Michigan to do so. I cannot remember when she did not have family worship. My father for some years did not make any profession. Night and morning mother conducted family worship. Usually father remained and knelt with us; sometimes, however, when work was pressing, he did not. For some years that was the condition in our home. My mother would read a short portion of Scripture and explain what in those days we used to call “the present truth.” Matters went along in that way for some years. When my brother and I were old enough, mother encouraged us at night to pray.

I tell you, brethren and sisters, those prayers were more than a form, for the influence of the Holy Spirit was in every word. I shall never forget our family worship one night when father was present and took part, and I for the first time heard his voice in prayer. It was indeed a precious occasion, and as soon as mother could be with us children alone she told us, “Now, children, father is going to live the present truth, and we all want to help him all we can.” I have made many mistakes, and have not been so faithful in living the truth as I wish I had been, yet the influence of those hours at family worship has followed me in all the after years, and has been the means of holding me in all my wanderings. I am now near threescore and ten, and feel that I cannot labor as I once could; so I want you to read these thoughts over with care, and if you are not faithfully conducting family worship, turn over a new leaf and do so. The influences of our time lead to infidelity and skepticism, and the general current is downward, and our children and young people need every possible influence thrown around them to keep them from being carried away by the surrounding evils. If Jesus, while here in the flesh, prayed “with strong crying and tears,” so should we.