To Go or Not to Go

Many local churches canceled Sunday worship services today because of the approaching storm.  I can remember a few times from my decades of ministry when the weather dictated making such a decision.  But, I can also remember a few times when the call to cancel worship came for different reasons.  The one heard most often was on Super Bowl Sunday.  Numerous were the times when someone suggested that the regular Sunday evening worship service be canceled so the faithful could stay home and watch the game without any guilt trips.   Of course, Sunday evening worship is almost an unheard of event in many mainline Protestant churches today. 

 

I always hated to make the decision to do away with scheduled worship hours.  I have always been of the opinion that someone is going to show up with a desperate need.  Many may come out of habit, but there is always someone who comes out of need.  We sometimes forget that people show up who are going through rough times in the their lives.  They come looking for help and encouragement.  They come searching for solutions to their struggles.  And, sometimes there is a note of urgency surrounding these struggles.  The come hoping to hear a word which will enable them to make it through some personal overwhelming darkness.

Of course, this is not to say that canceling worship is something which should never be done.  There are those times when it is the only thing which makes sense.  What is important is realizing that what we do when we worship is important.  It is important enough for worship leaders to care about every single moment of it.  It is important enough for the average pew sitter to show up because of the power of the ministry of presence.  Never can we forget that someone is sitting there with a broken heart and in need of a Savior who can put their life back together once more.  Canceling worship from time to time may be necessary, but it should never be done carelessly.