By Phil Cooke
First appeared in The Baptist Paper newspaper, May 9, 2025 issue. Used with Permission.
I’m a preacher’s kid, so growing up, I sat on a church pew every time the doors were open — and they were hard wooden things back then. Mom was pretty strict about attending church, and I’ve sat through about a million worship services, weddings, funerals, Vacation Bible Schools, Sunday School classes, revivals, youth rallies and more.
Tough rules
Along the way, my mom had some pretty tough rules that have mostly fallen out of fashion since those days. But after a few decades, I wonder if they weren’t so bad.
Here are a few of those rules:
- Dress up. My mom felt that church was about honoring God, and looking right was a big part of that honor. I had a whole collection of clip-on ties, and she ensured I was dressed up before leaving the house. Today, even pastors preach in jeans and T-shirts, and the truth is, I love being casual. However, attorneys and other professionals have learned how your dress impacts your attitude and perception. As my mom said, it shouldn’t be about pride but about honoring God. Looking around most congregations these days, I wonder if we could use an occasional dose of my mom’s advice.
- Pay attention. I got slapped a lot in church for not paying attention. Even as kids, my mom wouldn’t let us lay down on the church pew, draw in coloring books or scribble on paper. We had to pay attention — which, if you know how easily distracted I am, was like a personal nightmare. But looking back, it taught me discipline and a remarkable amount of Bible teaching.
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