Why do we go to church on Sunday mornings? Not "what are some reasons that Christians may once have met on Sunday mornings," but why do we, here and now, feel some compulsion to meet on Sunday mornings. I have heard it suggested that for an unchurched person, Sunday morning is a time one associates with church - hence, that's when they are most likely to show up.
The church I'm becoming involved in (PLUG: Coram Deo) is, among other things, committed to being different - not for the sake of being different, but because the status quo just isn't enough. Different is not a matter of the music style, the kinds of dress allowed, or having a coffee bar in the back. If that was all the change I could imagine, I'd be sorely tempted to ditch the church altogether.
The church is also committed to service - being Christ to others, in the flesh (as it were). Not "I'll-mow-your-lawn-if-you-listen-to-my-presentation-of-the-gospel," but motivated simply by the desire to serve. An end, not a means.
So I figure, why not use Sunday morning as a time to get our hands dirty serving the community? The world sees Christians and Sunday mornings like something from the Simpsons - we all get dressed up, huddle together, learn about the evils of the world, sing some songs, and go home eager to catch the afternoon football game. What would the world think if Christians made it a point to have their "Sunday morning service" become a time for Sunday morning service?
What if Sunday morning were spent visiting the sick, clothing the naked, and feeding the hungry? What if the focal point of the Christian Week was serving others, not huddling away from them in our fortress of solitude? For the local church to say "This gathering is not to be your focus. Your focus is to be out there, serving as Christ did."
Perhaps it is pointless and unnoticed symbolism. But I think it could be meaningful, especially (and perhaps only) if the heart is moved to match it.
9 comments:
I just found your blog. Being done with the bar has allowed me to venture into the outside world again. And a very good point. Like "behavior changing good point" good point.
Although church on Sunday is a necessary incorporation into my life during the week of which I can't do without. But it definately should be a part of my well balanced spiritual diet, not my only meal during the week.
So would you then advocate a focus away from the current "one man standing up and teaching many from the Word" to "every man standing up and showing Christ's love by putting his hands to work"?
My initial reaction was, "But when do we learn from the Word if we don't go to 'church' every week?"
However, could it be said that we could learn as much (or more?) from acting out Christ's love in service? Would this type of church encourage me more to learn on my own, just me and the Word?
hmmmm...
Thanks for the thoughts, Dave.
I'm not even advocating the elimination of believers gathering together to learn, worship, pray and fellowship. But I think that the living out of the love of Christ in the world is a more central part of the Christian life than learning. Perhaps I can break it out thusly:
1) The key part of the Sunday church service at the present seems to be the teaching, in my experience.
2) The central focus of the "Christian Week" is the Sunday church service.
3) Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the central focus of the church is teaching itself.
I would like to see a real dedication to service. To put selfless love for others in the primary focal point. If there were a way to put love for God in that position, it could be argued that this deserved primacy. That may be why the current Sunday church service is the focus - a time set aside to worship, pray to and learn about God. After all, the first commandment is not to love your neighbor as yourself, but to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
But I would suggest that for most believers, that is not what is accomplished on Sunday. The emphasis has shifted from coming before God to love Him to gathering for our nourishment, to have our needs met. As long as church is about me, it is worthless to me.
So I would suggest that using the traditional "me" time that is the focus of the Christian week right now and using it to serve a hurt, broken and lost world.
The typical church service could be moved, perhaps to Saturday night, Sunday night, or even a midweek night. I want to make use of the world's assumption that Christians go to church every Sunday - I really like my previous example of the "Fortress of Solitude." I want to tell people that my church doesn't meet on Sunday morning. We'd rather spend that time feeding, clothing, comforting, and loving the world. We get together later for our own nourishment, but the focus is on others. To serve, instead of being served.
And, yes. All things considered, I'd probably advocate a move away from the talking head. I have heard a great many sermons. I can't think of one that affected me the way embracing a homeless man did.
That's not to say that it has no value - cumulatively, I believe learning does have an effect. But I do not think hearing a sermon should be the most important part of the week.
I think sermons are great. I especially like the talking head at Coram Deo.
I don't know. I personally think he's pretty funny-lookin'. But his heart seems to be in the right place, when he's not beaning members of his church with his "fastball."
dang dave, fantastic thoughts here, in the blog and in your comments that followed. a quote came to mind regarding whether we might learn as much or more from serving as we learn from teaching...
"it has pleased God that divine verities should not enter the heart through the understanding, but the understanding through the heart."
-blaise pascal
that's why hugging a homeless man made a more lasting impression on you than any sermon you've ever heard. and just for the record, i am not anti-sermon or anti-sunday-morning-church either.... but i do LOVE your idea of changing things up simply for the purpose of showing a different side of Christianity to the world around us. it's NOT about the simpsons-esque sunday routine.
But while we maintain the routine, no matter how much we jazz, spice, and mix it up it is still "church on Sunday mornings."
I suppose it's a matter of pros and cons. What are the benefits of meeting on Sunday morning (As opposed to some other time)? What are the costs? I think the costs outweigh the benefits.
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