Lesson 11: Giving Up Church
Remember we are using “Is it a sin?” as a gimmick for examining what is good for self, others, and society. I was surprised that both the face-to-face classes wanted to discuss giving up church attendance and again how they handled it. Usually people make the decision based on “Do I need it?” or ‘Am I getting anything out it?” However, the classes spoke primarily about how going to church benefits other people and society.
The history of Sabbath observance in the Bible included the same three themes. It began as simply rest or stopping work; moved to caring for others as servants, foreigners, animals, and even the land; and culminated in the society enforcing the worship of God as a means to maintain its tradition.
Jesus claimed doing good, saving life, and rescuing the needy should take precedence over resting (Mark 2, 3; John 5). The early Christians followed his counsel by making their worship a communal activity to equip the saints for continuing his ministry to others and society. Acts 2 says it included fellowship, sharing a meal, praying, and remembering the tradition by hearing the apostles’ report of their experiences with Jesus.
So what about our present situation? If we are saved by God’s grace, going to church is not necessary for fulfilling an obligation. It might be healthy for us, but it also benefits others. We gather to hear God’s Word and share the sacraments; we take a day off to regain perspective by rethinking our values; we establish a rhythm so that Christ’s Way becomes a habit of our hearts; and we worship God. The golf course might offer a general appreciation of God’s creation, but it falls far short of anything else.
The classes were very aware our own health is to benefit others. In fact, it is often at Church where we learn who is in need and sometimes minister to them right on the spot. We go to share talents and money for larger projects of mercy as well as to provide a witness for neighbors and other worshipers. The institution provides a means for passing on our tradition and its values. Class members could no think of any other place where this happens in our secular society. In fact, the grandparents focused a lot of the discussion on their concern that children receive the benefits of that teaching.
At times we wondered if modern civilization is hanging on to a residue of Jewish- Christian values while not providing a way to continue them. In this sense, observance of the Sabbath might be the most important way not only to save the Church but also to offer society the traditions and values necessary for its survival and success.
As a pastor I was always confronting people about church attendance. The most frequent response was, “It is the only day I have to sleep in”. We seem to be returning to the first stage, making the Sabbath a day of rest for the individual. The demands of the job seem to be preventing us from doing good and maintaining tradition. Because most of us work to have the “good life” rather than put food on the table, we should be asking some probing questions: Has our affluence diverted us from remembering who we are? Is our lack of worship a sign that we “have turned in on ourselves”, Luther’s definition of sin? Is there any other way to sustain our tradition and values?
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