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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
Christmas fell on Sunday for the first time in over a decade this year and I don’t remember having the kind of debate then that occurred last month. This year, apparently attempting to be needs sensitive – a number of churches decided to cancel Sunday morning services to allow their congregations more time with family. In their defense, many held additional services on Christmas Eve but the lack of worship on Christmas morning still seems to me to be a strategic retreat for the church in the face of cultural pressure.
Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birthday! Why wouldn’t we celebrate it then? However good the intentions may have been, the truth is many felt it would be difficult to attract members away from their secular celebration of Christmas to attend a spiritual commemoration of Christ’s birth. It’s similar to the way many churches have abandoned Sunday evening services, mid-week worship and Sunday School on the grounds that schedules are so busy we need to free our members from some of their commitments so they can spend time with their families and in ministry. And while a number of these churches make up for this lack by developing strong small groups ministries, others just grow tired of the battle trying to motivate people to attend anything more than the absolute necessity of church on Sunday morning. Truth be told, some do spend more time with their families, but few involve themselves in ministry; while others use their free time to socialize outside the home or to work a few additional hours. Which leaves the old-fashioned question to be answered: What better family activity could they be involved in than attending church together? Shouldn’t we rather be challenging our congregations to prioritize their schedules so that church – and I don’t mean committee meetings and an abundance of extracurricular activities – but worship services and opportunities for spiritual growth are number one?
A number of changes have come about within the church as a result of our attempts at relevance to our present culture. Establishing a connection to the people we are trying to reach may indeed call for changes in our presentation of the gospel, but there is a fine line between relating to an errant society and accommodating it; a line so fine it is often stepped over unintentionally . We are called to be noticeably different, that being a part of the allure of Christianity. If we merely mimic the culture we are to change, nothing significant will happen. One change causing heated debate is the implementation of contemporary services with their upbeat music and praise choruses, creating a much more relaxed atmosphere – which I personally think is great; as long as we don’t become so relaxed in our approach to God that we lose our sense of wonder and awe for the object of our worship.
Another point of contention arising out of our attempts at offering a less traditional service revolves around the question of appropriate dress. (I personally haven’t owned a suit in years.) But as trivial as that seems, we need to exercise caution so that we don’t over-step the bounds of comfort to a loss of modesty and respect for those around us who may take offense. No one should necessarily have to dress in a manner that pleases others but we should never dress in such a way as to intentionally offend or casually dismiss others’ concerns either. And in remaining silent in the face of outright immodesty, even as it is "allowed" in an attempt to attract those not accustomed to attending church otherwise, do we not run the risk of losing our sense of propriety among those who already attend? (1 Timothy 2:9)
We must foster a welcoming atmosphere in our churches, embracing everyone regardless of their social standing and moral condition. We should likewise be supportive and understanding as they seek God’s face and realize his will at their own pace; giving room for cultural differences and varying degrees of maturity. We must greet everyone with pleasure and hospitality, prepared to soothe their distress and encouraging them in their search for peace and fulfillment in Christ. But we must never excuse sin or condone bad behavior; it not being the church’s responsibility to make people feel comfortable, content, or satisfied in the condition they are presently in. We all come just as we are – to be created anew, into something different – better; sometimes that process makes us uncomfortable. We have no right to demand change of people, but we must reinforce the instruction of scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit to holiness. For, "…without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14 That’s a difficult balance to strike, one worthy of further review. Check back next week for more.
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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