p. 5 | Family Worship by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 12, 1914

Family Worship

By G. B. Thompson

FAMILY worship! What a great anchor to the soul! The seasons spent in a home where family worship is conducted as it should be will leave in the memory a fragrance that time cannot efface. No young man or young woman can ever forget those seasons of grace, when, around the family circle, petitions mingled with thanksgiving have been offered to the Father's throne for his care and protection, and for his guidance in the future.

There is nothing else that so sweetens the home life. True family worship is a fountain that brings streams of holy influences into every part of the household. It is a vase of perfume that sheds fragrance over all. It softens asperities. It quells anger. It quiets impatience. It settles differences. It subdues evil passions. Hearts that are drawn together at God's feet every day cannot get very far apart. The frictions of the day are forgotten when all voices mingle in the same heavenly song. As the tender words of inspiration fall with their benign counsels, all feeling of unkindness melts away. The altar in the midst wondrously hallows and sweetens the home fellowship. Besides, it puts new strength into every heart. It comforts sorrow. It is a shield against temptation. It smooths out the wrinkles of care. It inspires strength for burden bearing. It quickens every religious sentiment, and keeps the fires burning on every heart's altar.

The manner in which the family worship is conducted is very important. It should be made so pleasant as to be looked forward to with gladness even by the youngest children. Too often it is made tedious, monotonous, or burdensome. Men fall into a stereotyped order which they never vary. Long passages are read, and the prayers offered are not only long, but are the same every day from year to year, with no adaptation to the home life, or to the capacities of children. There is no reason why the family worship should not be the most delightful exercise in the home life. It should be the continual study of heads of households to make it bright, interesting, and profitable. To make it dull and irksome is treason to true religion.

It is impossible to give more than the merest suggestions and hints as to methods. A part in the service should be given to each child. Questions may be asked each day on the passage read the day before. Incidents may be introduced to illustrate the lesson. Hard words may be explained. One practical thought at least may be selected from the Scripture read which will bear upon the day's life. Cheerful songs may be sung. Then in the prayer some part should be given to the little ones. Sometimes it is good to have all follow in the prayer, repeating it phrase after phrase. And all may unite in the Lord's Prayer at the close. When there are quite young children in the family, it may not be best to read the Bible in course, but to select portions in which they will be easily interested.

For an exercise so sacred and fraught with such influences, it is not too much to say that the most careful preparation should be made. It is probable that there are few duties for which so little preparation is actually made. If thought were given to this matter beforehand, the exercise need never be dull or wearisome. The passage may not only be selected but studied, and some point fixed upon for practical enforcement. A bright incident or little story may be read to help to fix the lesson. The prayer may be thought over or even written out. A few minutes given every day to preparation for family worship will serve to make it, as it should be, the most pleasant and attractive incident of the day.—“Week Day Religion,” pages 79-81.

It is a source of much sadness that the rush of secular affairs is the cause of the discontinuance of family worship in many homes. The hope of the church lies in those homes where, morning and evening, the family is gathered around the altar of prayer. Here, under the benediction of Heaven, each receives strength to meet temptations.

In view of the times in which we live, the darkness which enshrouds us, and the muttering thunders which betoken a tempest of unwonted power, those who know and understand the times in which we live should not fail to rear the family altar, and petition most earnestly the throne for help in this time.

G. B. THOMPSON.