Some people work during the week and don't mind a little relaxation on the weekend.
When I was growing up we were at church Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, Friday night, Saturday morning (door knocking) and Saturday night. There were also plenty of revival weeks where we were there every night. Sunday morning I was there at 6 am for bus ministry and also Sunday afternoon early before Sunday night service for choir practice. Needless to say, I am burnt out on church for one lifetime. One thing that really stands out in my mind in regards to my old church is how stressed out my family always was when getting ready for church.
My family's current schedule of a long Sunday morning service, a midweek home fellowship night, and a low-key midweek evening service are just right. We have the occasional revival and/or Sunday evening service, but it isn't so frequent as to be burdensome. I guess the high-minded might consider it well-nigh blasphemy to say 'burdensome', but with kids and two full time jobs between me and mom, that's a correct description, sorry.
Grew up believing God is #1 and Church is #2. No encouragement to have family time, to enjoy the weekend, to enjoy time at home. It was Sunday AM/PM with 30 minutes of prayer before each service. Then it was 6AM prayer every Tues-Fri. Wed Bible Study, Fri Youth Service, Sat AM prayer and Visitiation/Door Knocking/Bus Route Recruiting. Revivals were every night Tues-Sat, twice on Sun taking Mon off. No school choir, school sports, school involvement.
It was all about quantity versus quality. Very little discipleship, growth tracks. Just come to church shockamoo, speak in tongues, pray through go home come back and do it all over again. We packed that church out. 600+ attendance. But within a decade it was down to 350. Many of the youth from that era, the vast majority of them got the heck out of Dodge when they got the chance b/c many of them never got the heart of the Gospel, it was all about emotionalism and control and lots and lots of effort. Yu can pack out a building by working hard but the question is, "Are you making disciples?"
Disciples are MADE not born.
Deacon, I can't place you but it sounds like we went to the same church as youth. I often wondered about Sunday, "a day of rest?" Not where I attended.
I guess it takes that much church to keep some of the Pentecostals indoctrinated! And while we're on this subject, let me change it a bit. Why is it that when Pentecostals are praying around the altar the facial expressions are ones of agony, pain, hurt and not happiness and joy for the most part?
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Deacon, I can't place you but it sounds like we went to the same church as youth. I often wondered about Sunday, "a day of rest?" Not where I attended.
I guess it takes that much church to keep some of the Pentecostals indoctrinated! And while we're on this subject, let me change it a bit. Why is it that when Pentecostals are praying around the altar the facial expressions are ones of agony, pain, hurt and not happiness and joy for the most part?
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