In this day and age, the church is still under attack. However, now, especially in the United States, it takes the form of indifference. The Bible clearly says that Christians face a spiritual war, with the devil as our enemy. His tactics may change, but his hatred for God, and his children, doesn't.
When I was growing up, I didn't mind going to church. I never found my grandfather to be hypocritical about this. He wasn't one to send us to church, while he stayed at home. I was always surrounded by a family who never showed any doubt, concerning the truths of the Bible. It wasn't a family where we would go to church, but then come home and whisper, in small groups, about how we weren't sure whether or not the Bible was true. I was greatly blessed to be in an environment of solid consistency, which I took for granted until my adult life. Prior to becoming an adult, I didn't even know that anyone struggled with this, or that such households existed. So, as I've stated earlier, my experience is nearly the opposite of what the woman, in the cafeteria, described.
I started going to church when I was in the third grade. My most memorable Sunday School teacher was Mrs. Armstrong; the pastor's wife. She spent a lot of time teaching us children about the good examples in the Old Testament; telling us about people like Noah, Moses and Joseph. She was always completely sincere, and many children learned the books of the Bible, in a similar way that we learned the English alphabet, or the geography of the United States, in our secular schools. I now recognize that my education, from Sunday School, is more valuable than what I learned in the public school. The knowledge I learned in public school will be useful for the rest of my life, but the knowledge I gained in Sunday School, will benefit me for eternity. It's also knowledge that not every child receives.
The woman, in the cafeteria, said that she would never force religion on her children. Whenever I hear a statement like that, it forces me to conclude one of two things. Either, such a person doesn't truly believe that what their religion teaches is true, or that person doesn't love their children. Most people love their children, which means that most, of such people, fall into the first category. It's not hard to come to this conclusion.
The Bible teaches that we are to tell our children about God. It's a common theme throughout the entire book. But even if God didn't instruct us to do this, why wouldn't you educate your child about something that is so important?
Parents tell their children not to touch hot objects. This is because they don't want their children to injure themselves. Many talk to their children about drugs and sex. Why? It's to give them important knowledge which will enable them to avoid making terrible mistakes in the future. What parent would choose not to warn their children about the importance of not touching a hot stove? What parent would say, "I don't want to push that knowledge on them. I want them to figure it out for themselves."? Only a cruel parent would do something like that. So if the parent truly believes their religion to be true, it would be odd for them not to teach it to their children.
So when a person makes such a statement, it really speaks volumes concerning how little they value their faith, and that they view it with a "take it or leave it" approach.
What I've just said is based on pure logic. It has value, but what's even more important is that God is clear that Christians are expected to teach their children about God. Here are a few passages of scripture which talk about the importance of children learning about God.
"Some people brought children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples scolded the people. When Jesus noticed this, he was angry and said to his disciples, 'Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.' Then he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on each of them, and blessed them."
-Mark 10:13-16
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Never forget these commands that I am giving you today. Teach them to your children. Repeat them when you are at home and when you are away, when you are resting and when you are working. Tie them on your arms and wear them on your foreheads as a reminder. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates."
-Deuteronomy 6:5-9
That last portion of scripture emphasizes something that is very important. It talks about the fact that following God is a continuous, foundational thing. It's not just something you do on Sunday mornings in order to check it off of your to-do list. If your relationship with God is that superficial, then it would only make sense that your children would resent you for requiring them to go to church. Don't be surprised when they notice that you merely sit through sermons, but don't put any of the teachings into practice. If all it is is a mere routine, then can you blame them for not valuing it? However, if your relationship with God is foundational, constant, and consistent, your children, along with everyone else, will notice. Your children will understand that following God is a way of life, not a mere weekly event.