Another Era

Back in another era of the church in these parts, most churches had Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting.  Perhaps, at one time it was a gathering mainly devoted to prayer, but by the time I got to going it was mostly like a Bible study with hymns, or an even more informal version of what happened on Sunday night.   Many of my friends did not go, but since I was a PK (Preacher's Kid), participation was not optional.  I went.  Of course, Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting is a thing of the past in most places.   

It has been replaced by something not quite so spiritual sounding and most likely something not nearly as spiritual.  Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting has been replaced by Wednesday Night Supper which includes a meal and a program that would fit into most civic club lunches.  There are exceptions to this broad generalization, but it is not an exaggeration to say that what is hardly is like what used to be.  I imagine if the meal got omitted and just a Bible Study was offered, few would be able to make it.  And, if only a prayer service was offered, the smallest of rooms would be more than adequate.  

I often wonder what has happened.  Are people not as spiritual as they used to be?  Or, are they better Christians and do not need the midweek course correction?  The answer is much deeper than such questions.  While the church has certainly changed, the culture around it has changed even more.  Life styles are different in more ways than there is room to list.  Will we ever see a return to Wednesday night events at the church that are designed to feed the soul instead of the stomach?  Probably not.  But, then who knows what the Spirit might do in our midst to create a spiritual hunger that will transcend the influence of the secular culture on the church.