I really appreciate the way that email keeps me connected to people I don't often see. The other day I received an extended email from someone who, for many years, has been close to our family though we are now separated by many miles. My friend's email contained so many good questions and observations that I asked for her permission to post it here. "Jessica" graciously agreed to my request and so over the next several days I'll post my response to her questions.
After a quick update on the state of her family and well-wishes for me in relation to my birthday, Jessica continued…
My husband and I have made an effort since the first of the year to go to church every Sunday that we're in town, and I think it's made a big difference for us individually and as a family. Little changes, more peace. Prior to that we attended once or twice a month. We had a bunch of excuses. Anyway.....
As we go now almost every week, we notice how many families are missing, and it is disappointing. I know they have soccer, and other commitments. But now I'm getting irritated that the young families want so much of the money to fund their programs and staff, but don't participate in the main event of the week. Is that important? Should people feel justified in missing Sunday if they go to the mid-week program? And what if we miss Wednesday due to soccer or little league, what then?
First, let me commend your decision to make worship a priority in the life of your family. Is it easy? No way! If it was easy then I would expect it to be more common but in this day and age, it seems to be a rare commitment.
This year Easter Sunday fell on the week prior to the school vacation. I knew the placement of the holiday would mean that many families in our community would be leaving for vacation as soon as the school bell rang. I can understand that. Families need to make the most of any opportunity to spend time together. And yet, when I heard the story of the vacation plans of one family in our church, I was inspired. This family planned a trip to the Grand Canyon. An early start would have made the trip easier but they waited until after the service on Sunday to jump on the road. They said simply, "Our vacation would not be complete without the celebration of Easter." I admire people who dare to demonstrate that kind of a priority.
I'm glad to hear that your regular attendance has made a difference for you personally and as a family. I wish more people would challenge themselves to make that kind of commitment. And yet it is precisely because of your commitment that you are now more aware of the casual habits of others. When you were occasional in your attendance it didn’t matter as much. Some Sundays were good and others "not so good." My guess is that the "not so good" Sundays made it easier to miss the following Sunday. So what makes a "not so good" Sunday? Is it the failure of prayer, music or good preaching? Perhaps these can be part of the problem (you know me well enough to know preachers aren’t perfect) but they are never the whole story.
We gather for worship on Sunday to connect with God and with one another. Hopefully, the regular rhythm of worship helps us to relate to God in ever deepening degrees. That alone makes such a commitment worthwhile. I suspect that the "not so good" Sundays are somehow connected to a limited experience of the power and presence of God. Through faith in Jesus Christ we are invited to experience a personal and dynamic relationship with God and yet so many people settle for something less. What can you do about it? Tell others about the discoveries you've made. How has your commitment to regularly participating in the "main event" made a difference for you? Share your story. Invite them to take the journey with you because that's the second part of the story. We gather to connect with God and with one another. Your irritation appears to be rooted in casual commitment of others. And yet, you didn't get it right away (does anyone, really?). Something changed in you that made you want to make a regular commitment. What was it? I’m guessing it wasn't a guilt-trip or someone tell you that you needed to be more committed. In my frustration, I'm often tempted to preach that message but I don't think it will make a lasting impact.
A few years ago Philip Yancey observed, "As I travel, I have observed a pattern, a strange historical phenomenon of God 'moving' geographically from the Middle East, to Europe to North America to the developing world. My theory is this: God goes where he's wanted." (CT, February 5, 2001 as quoted in The Next Christendom by Jenkins) So what do you want in life? Are you satisfied with your choice?
