February 2010
Sunday morning in America
Sometimes I get to observe how an increasing percentage of people spend their Sunday mornings. Sometimes when I am driving to church on an especially nice day I see how many people spend their Sunday mornings. With increasing regularity I think more and more Christians and sad to say even church members are opting to spend their Sunday mornings in “alternative” ways from being in church. Frankly, it’s disturbing to me.
On a good day, weather wise, when I am driving to church I will see that the warm sun and the beautiful weather brings out walkers, runners, bikers, golfers and a whole host of other “fill in the blank-ers”. I observe how family picnics, ball games, and just plain old shopping have come to replace going to church for many. I do my best not to slip into my judgmental mode but it’s hard. I can’t do anything about how people choose to spend their Sunday mornings but I do get more and more bothered about folks who have claimed to follow Jesus Christ and have made a commitment as a church member but have begun trading their Sunday mornings in church for the myriad of alternative experiences. Just staying at home isn’t the answer to the spiritual and emotional holes in your life.
Alternative Sunday mornings have become a huge social change that has occurred in my lifetime. The move from Sunday as a day reserved for church to Sunday as a day reserved for leisure and family activities has occurred and we aren’t richer for it. I see what the church is up against when we open our doors on Sunday mornings in the hope that people will choose the Lord instead of the lakefront. Our competition is not the other churches but the other forms of entertainment. And, sad to say, we like most other churches are losing the competition.
We are never going to be able to compete with the warm, fuzzy laziness of staying home so we can get up at a leisurely pace, make a pot of coffee, read the Sunday paper and watch television. We can’t match the fun of playing golf or the joy of having a family picnic at the local park. We do our best to offer meaningful and joyful worship that makes it worth your while to be here but at our best we aren’t as much fun as a picnic at the lake. Joel Osteen is a lot more entertaining and professional than we are but then again try calling good old Joel when you need a pastor.
The challenges confronting us are enormous. People deserve our best when it comes to the Sunday morning service. I work hard and try to do my best in putting together a thoughtful and interesting sermon but our members are obligated to do their best to make being in church their first priority – and with the right attitude and happy heart. The church is doing our best to offer you something worthwhile once you get here – are you doing your best to get here?
See you in church Sunday,
Dr. Bob