If it is particularly bad I have called elderly saints and told them NOT to try and come.
I don't want them breaking a hip on an icy step.
I do teach that it is important to be in church, however, and when people start looking for reasons to skip out, it is generally a bad sign for their spiritual condition.
This is so wonderful to hear...and such a blessing to those that have a difficult time....you show a care and concern for the people....Bless you...
1. We have been conditioned through the years [those of us raised in Apostolic churches/organizations] that church comes first. Many do this in the name of God but it is not God first, it is church first. This in not scriptural and church leadership are to be blamed.
In all fairness, Pastor does what he thinks is best for the church and has a bias because his life is the church; whereas our families and jobs are our lives, and church itself, a third or fourth on the list.
For all the prior conditioning I find it ironic that at the times I think should be the most 'spiritual' like the birth fo Christ and the New Year we can rarely find a church open, and those that are are eating and drinking and not doing spiritual things.
2. Personal Accountability does come into play here; and many people are ostracisized for their standing in their own conviction when it is against a scheduled service or a church activity. Those who live by their own convictions are often not accepted as 'submissive' to church leadership and denied accessability to church leadership's response in counseling , hospital visitation, and conducting of weddings and funerals.
When did Pastor's get too busy to go pray for people who are having surgery, in the hospital, or at home on their deathbed?
Who do Pastor's think they are who say they will not counsel those who do not pay their tithes? Are they not making themselves HIRELINGS after all?
So, I do think personal accountability is essential, but I also think that the Bible bears out that leadership are accountable for what they do or don't do, teach or don't teach.
Charles Stanley had an excellent sermon this morning: one thing he said that stood out in my mind. He said, "Jesus takes full responsibility for the consequences of our obedience, and we must take full responsibility for our disobedience." [He was talking about obedience to God and not man, BTW].
Blessings, Rhoni
Thank you for posting this. I am thinking about the feelings and shame I would go through if I needed to stay away from a church service. This was not "Self" imposed, We were taught that unless you had two broken leggs you were not to miss church. Of course this was said in jest, but they really did mean it. My pastor preached that you could miss the service that could determine your salvation!! He impressed upon us that Church was of the highest importance, above a sick child, above fatigue, above close relatives that you only see once in a few years...it is sad. My moms unsaved daughter and her husband would come into town from out of state once a year, for a weekend, and my parents both went to church on Sunday, both services.
Thank you for posting this. I am thinking about the feelings and shame I would go through if I needed to stay away from a church service. This was not "Self" imposed, We were taught that unless you had two broken leggs you were not to miss church. Of course this was said in jest, but they really did mean it. My pastor preached that you could miss the service that could determine your salvation!! He impressed upon us that Church was of the highest importance, above a sick child, above fatigue, above close relatives that you only see once in a few years...it is sad. My moms unsaved daughter and her husband would come into town from out of state once a year, for a weekend, and my parents both went to church on Sunday, both services.
In all things we need balance....putting people before church is NOT putting people before God...it is doing God's work when we fellowship and minister to others...
Well, we went to the funeral this past Monday morning. An insane amount of people showed up! She was a school teacher, so there were all her co-workers as well as dozens of students and their parents. All told, it was a "good" funeral.
And I did not sense of shred of guilt from any of the regular church members over having not canceled service that morning due to the weather.....
In all things we need balance....putting people before church is NOT putting people before God...it is doing God's work when we fellowship and minister to others...
In fact, if you put "church" before people, you may very well be putting "church" before God!
I am sorry for the loss you and the church, and the loved ones of this lady have experienced. It's a mess on our emotions when someone dies unexpectedly and on their way to church no less.
Our pastor is the type who rarely cancels church... A couple of Sunday nights ago we had our Christmas concert scheduled and the weather didn't co-operate. We had a snowstorm but the service wasn't cancelled. About 150 showed up I was told.. my husband went (we live five minutes from the church) but I kept our children home.
I don't like it when people are guilted into anything... so if a Pastor guilts people into thinking missing a service because of poor weather conditions makes them less than consecrated than I have issue with that.
However, Pastors also have to keep their sheep from straying.. and admonishing them to be faithful to service is part of that. But everything is of course, to be done with wisdom and common sense.
I know a person can be killed on clear roads as well as snowy ones... that's the sad reality. And people are killed on their way to work during storms as well.
Life really sucks sometimes... But, I believe the Saints of God are in his hands... he knows the way we take.
I know you're hurting right now, and I know your angry... I know I would be too. The ones left behind are the ones who feel the pain and anger.
But your sister in the Lord... I would almost lay money on this... she probably was glad when they said unto her.. "let us go into the house of the Lord"... and the amazing thing is, she did go to the house of the Lord. And she's waiting for her husband, and you, and all the rest of us to join her.
Guard your heart... God doesn't make mistakes. You can't count on people but you can trust in him.
__________________ Mrs. LPW
Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
I've not been to traditional church in around 4 years -- wait, it has been six years now (wow - life has went by) although I have visited a few occasionally but i don't consider that going because i wasn't a member just trying to find somewhere -- during that time, I should say, I have had a group of people to whom i have been submitted, yada, yada, yada.
That said, I visited a church about 3 weeks ago that I REALLY like. Their vision for outreach is similar to mine. The pastor's idea of "doing" church is very, very similar to mine. Their idea of Christianity is very similar to mine.
So, guess what? I, the anti-church guy, met with the pastor today over lunch and had a great time just getting to know one another. I foresee he and I having many such lunches and that I, the anti-church guy, will become the churchgoer - and becoming that is that which I have feared.
__________________ Resolve to serve no more, and you are at once freed. I do not ask that you place hands upon the tyrant to topple him over, but simply that you support him no longer; then you will behold him, like a great Colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away, fall of his own weight and break into pieces. | Etienne de la Boetie
I am truly sorry for this tragic loss, but I can't for the life of me understand why you feel such bitterness about church services as a result. Pardon me, but you need to review your logic here. There is none.
Having a scheduled church service, going to that scheduled church service and the particular weather prevalent at the time...you put those all together, then dramatically shake your fist in the air at those who would feel an obligation to attend the scheduled church services??? Sorry, I just don't get it. This is grabbing at straws to assign blame.
I really don't mean to be so strident in my response, but to blame someone's death on the fact that a service was not cancelled due to adverse weather, ergo, there is an inherent evil in feeling an obligation to attend service??!!?
Tragic events occur. Death is a fact of life no matter how much I would like it not to be. By sin death entered the world. Now, we are to believe that by feeling obligation or responsibility to attend a church services during adverse weather conditions, somehow the church or its leadership is responsible for the loss???!!!??
Throughout my lifetime, tragedies have struck very close to me. But I give thanks to the Lord Jesus and to His wonderful grace, that I have not yielded to a bitter spirit that would attack the very Power that can give me peace and comfort or those who are best prepared to minister to my hurting heart and mine.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil: for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
In my life, the Church is not the problem; the problem is a life without the Church. This is NOT a radical statement...it is a statement of truth and faith.
The "bitterness" I feel comes from the spirit of idolatry that many have toward the "church service". The spirit that has many by the throat that the church service is so all important that life and limb will be risked all for the sake of "the service!". I DO realize that life and limb are risked everyday in countries where the government and uncontrolled mobs disprove of anything Christian, but thankfully we don't live in such a country yet.
HERE, it is all about attending service so as to be more "saved" than the person who doesn't. Here in America, the church service itself is the reason for going all too often, not God.
"Tragic Events" DO occur but why do we need to increase their likelihood of happening? To have a church service in a blizzard then declare that it was "Gods Will" when tragedy happens is being a bit naive and foolish.
It is not just this particular tragedy that has me steamed. It is a laundry list of people putting far more important matters behind the "church service", all for the express purpose of "feeling more saved" and being able to boast about never having missed a service.
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