There is an apparent trend among American Churches wherein many congregations have ceased holding a mid-week service and a popular argument to accompany the move. Firmly ensconced on one side of the argument are those who adamantly proclaim the familiar mantra from Hebrews 10:25 which states, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." A wonderful verse and an effective argument for getting together.
Others however are equally cemented within their view that the scriptures defining New Testament worship never call us to a specific mid-week service. There's is also a securely defensible position. Searching the New Testament will provide, to my knowledge, a gaping hole where the command to meet on a specific mid-week day should be.
In view of this, how do we handle Wednesday nights? Should we worry about the lag in attendance and view it as a less than favorable sign of the spiritual maturity of the absent congregants? Should we approach them concerned, pray for and with them and encourage them to more frequent attendance? Should we pull out the Hebrews 10:25 mantra and scold them for their shortcoming? Or should we back off, live and let live? As the trend toward skipping this particular service begins to take hold within a congregation and fewer and fewer come, is the only alternative to cancel the service?
I have further views on this, but I thought I'd toss it out there for your consideration. I've enjoyed reading a posting on this from Patrick Mead's blog and I'll bring up a couple of things he said in further postings.
Tom
4 comments:
i think it's a great tradition, and those who take advantage of it will be blessed.
our group is small, you know jersey culture, hard to get home and eat and be somewhere by 7.
our wednesday night has almost become an advanced class. we have better, deeper discussions than with the sunday morning crowd
Brian,
Don't you think that this should inspire more people to more frequent attendance? Some churches are beginning to serve a simple dinner before services which has produced more fellowship as well as more attendance, but should mature Christians need such bribery to cause them to want to be together? I realize that the argument for the flip-side is that this isn’t bribery, but rather a convenient way to fellowship and be together before service as well as a way to remove the mealtime obstacle that so often impedes attendance. I agree with you that the service is well worth attending and those who do are genuinely blessed by it.
Tom
Just as I eat more than one meal a week - or a day - so I need more "meat" from the scriptures than is given in one - or two - hours on Sunday. But then I want to be with the brothers and sisters every opportunity that is presented to me. Study alone is good, but study with others helps me learn from their thoughts, just as reading blogs from those I admire and know have well-thought out ideas to present does, too.
We have started having a meal the last Wednesday night of the month - and these are the best attended - yet if the people only get this much more instruction, it is worth it.
Yes, we no longer have small children at home, but when we did, we made attending every Bible service activity seem good, happy and important. The attitude of the "mature" Christian is what affects those younger in the faith.
My names is Trevor, and I am a pastor of a small church in Australia.
I face many Issues from week to week in an ever changing world where the church is being perceived as less relevant and the gospel we believe in so strongly, is being challenged like never before.
Worse than this, is the difficulties many churches and pastors are facing in their challenge to reach out to a younger generation whilst at the same time valuing old time Christians who are finding it ever harder to relate to their changing world and the modern church.
Missionaries have gone out with an attitude of "We are here for YOU". While the church back home says "We are here for US". Many churches today, be they modern or traditional, are doing things to please the worshipper, instead of doing things to please the One whom we Worship.
I would love to know how others are thinking about this. I know I can't be the only one concerned.
Trevor (Pastor)
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