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).