Why Sunday Nights, Part 2

This is Part 2 of "Why Sunday Nights."  If you missed it, here is part 1.

Today the Sunday night church service has become a tradition.  Just one of many that holds the church in a stranglehold.  The two-service model was originally just something that some folks figured out as what worked for their situation, but it has become an expected model for the rest of us.

But let's face it: circumstances have changed.  And even if they hadn't, not every situation is the same.  Churches are different from each other for a variety of reasons, and to try and have a one-size-fits-all model for every church is counter-productive, and rather silly.

And it took me moving 400 miles away from the circles I used to move in to figure that out.  You see, I'm a church geek.  Always have been.  For the past 15 or so years I have been at church every time the door was open.  Yes, I'm a Youth Pastor, but I wasn't always.  And even when I wasn't, I was always there.  It's just how I work.  I love working at church; it gives me fulfillment.

But after I moved away from home and all things familiar, I was exposed to, well, non-churchy people.  I had surrounded myself with people who lived and breathed church just like I did.  But when I moved and had to make new friends, I began to realize that I had been living in a world that was great for "church geeks," but not so much for the real world.  Not everyone lives and breathes church like I did (and still do, for those that think I'm bitter).  That is not to say that they don't devote their lives to Christ and Him crucified, but they also have other things going on in their lives.

Now, I've also had the argument that "Jesus gave up everything for our salvation, can't we do the same for Him."  So you mean to tell me that every person that is sold-out to Christ needs to leave their careers, their children, and their family for Jesus?  And yes, I hear the "rich, young ruler" story resounding in my head as I type this.  But I don't believe that Jesus wanted us all to literally give up everything to follow Him.  I do believe that we should be willing to give it all up at a moment's notice should He ask us to, and I know plenty of people who have, or will.  But if we all did that, nothing would function.  No business would have any employees left (unless you count the unsaved, but of course it's our job to convert them all, and who would that leave...), and life as we know it would come to a halt.  I don't believe that's what Jesus was asking.  I believe He would prefer us to give up our idols, but to continue to be a missionary right where He has us in our everyday lives.

What does this have to do with Sunday nights?  Well what if a person has children who play sports?  And those practices are on Wednesday night?  Should they give up the sport because they're going to miss church?  Absolutely not!  That's ridiculous!  What if God used them to reach out to their teammates and win them to Christ, and then bring them to church when the season is over?

I think I'm rambling.  Sorry about that.  My point is that, here in America, people don't wrap their lives around church.  It's a shame really.  In foreign countries, places that we would call third-world, the church is thriving.  And I've had multiple missionaries give the same explanation: lack of distraction.  There's nothing else to do in town, so every day, if people aren't working, they're at church.  And because of that, discipleship is flourishing and the church is thriving. But, to expect that in America is absurd. There are too many distractions.

So, I submit, that instead of the church's obsession with being counter-cultural, creating programs that people don't want, and answering questions people aren't asking (again, for the sick, not the well), why don't we adapt?  Throw out stale traditions that weren't intended for us. Remove restrictions that are simply unbiblical.  And for heaven's sake, meet real needs right in your own front yard, using methods that work for you, instead of hanging on to what used to.

Tomorrow, I'll finish up with the last part of this series, using real examples of real people in our very own church (don't worry, I won't use names).

Comments

[Deirdre]

Okay, you asked for a comment, so hear goes...I agree with you on most all of your points. The "stigma" that has always been church 3 times a week is simply not relevant to current times. First, show me in the Bible where it states "Be in church 3 times per week" It doesn't say that anywhere. Yes, times are so different than even when I was growing up. We were in church every time the doors were open. Back in the day, so to speak, times were much different. A family normally only had one working parent, now in a lot of cases, both parents working is a must. Before, one parent was home, could tend to all the house duties, have supper on the table, devote time to the children, help with school work. Now, most households have to do all of the above, after work and on weekends. Yes, times are easier as far as conveniences, however, but with changing times, also comes changing schedules. To simply judge someone or think they love God any less because they go to church 3 times, 2 times or even 1 time a week is simply in my opinion, a religious spirit. May sound harsh, but that's what I call it. As for my situation, being a single parent, all of the above mentioned duties in a household fall on me, one person. Now, as a parent(other than my relationship with God), my first responsibility is my child. No, my first responsibility is not the church and to allow the "busyness" of the church to take away from me being a parent to my child. Yes, her spiritual welfare is ultimately my first priority, and going to church is part of that. But, times have changed. Sometimes it is easy to use that as a cop out, but to actually admit times have changed takes a big person and an even bigger person to change with those times and realize that the world has changed. Now, the church can either get on board with that and try to reach the world where things are so different than what they were before and try to relate to these people or we can sit on our high box. The high box being unchanging and not relate to those around us. What do you think Jesus would want us to do? I believe He would want us to relate to those around us and try to reach those around us which may not always be in a church setting. When Jesus reached people where was He? He went to where they were. Yes, people flocked to Him, but they flocked because He was reachable, He was approachable. They flocked to Him, because He was out there where they were. You may think I have drifted from the original thought, however, I think it goes hand in hand. If the church is not willing to change with the times, then how will we ever reach people? This doesn't mean the church should ever stray from anything biblical, but we must stay current to reach a current generation.

As for your comment of "non churchy" people. I don't necessarily agree with that. The use of that word almost sounds judgemental. Just because people aren't able to "live" at the church doesn't mean they are non-churchy. Most of those non churchy people are more devoted and serve the Lord with more sincerity than alot of those that just attend church when the doors are open.

Also your comment on that it's shame that people don't wrap themselves around church, that's almost contradictory from what you previously said. If you asked the children of the those people that don't wrap themselves around church how important the church is, they would say very important. Once again, just because you don't wrap yourself around church doesn't mean that you are any less devoted to the church or that you love God any less. It simply means, they also have other responsibilities and other "life" things. It's not a shame that people can't wrap themselves around church, it's a shame when the church is not a priority.

Ok, like it or not, that's just a "few" thoughts I had on the subject. Hope it all made sense.

[Daniel Hahn]

Deirdre, great comments! I think we actually agree on everything. The points that you disagree, as written, I guess need some clarification, because you basically said what I said, just differently.

I used the words "non-churchy" in reference to folks who were 100% sold out to Christ and His mission, but didn't wrap every waking moment of their life around the church. Like I mentioned in the post, it doesn't mean they are any less sincere than the "churchy", and in fact, many of them (like you said as well) are more devoted and serve the Lord with more sincerity than many that attend every single event/service. So therefore, we agree.

And as far as it being a shame that people don't wrap themselves around the church, I was referring to my allusion in the post to the churches in 3rd world countries where they are reaping the benefits of constantly being in church. It's quite the outpouring of God's Spirit. I'm not saying "shame on you" to the people who don't wrap their lives around the church, because my argument is that people simply can't do that in our society. I'm just saying that it is a shame we can't, because, using the aforementioned example, God is moving in a mighty way in those places. Just wishful thinking, that's all. I'm so hungry for an outpouring like that it hurts! So again, I think we agree. A guy can dream, right? :)

[Deirdre]

Ok, we agree on all of it, like you said, we just said it differently. Glad to know we agree and yes, I would love to see God just show out. After all, He wants to! He's just sitting there waiting to show us His might and power! He's waiting on us! He shows up everytime, He's there before we get there. I think alot of the time He is waiting on us to acknowledge Him.