Canceled for weather

[Historian]

My father was (is) a pastor of a non-fundy (and non-Baptist church). We lived right behind the church, so weather was never an issue for us. Plus, Dad was from the north and the church was in TN, so he always had a hard time sympathizing with people's "the weather's bad" whining. He was of the opinion that southerners didn't have the slightest idea what bad weather really was or how to drive in it.

But, he never did condemn anyone for not coming, or make note or anything. Several times when there were ice storms (which he did acknowledge were dangerous) I remember just us staying at home. But he always kept an eye on the parking lot, just in case. He always used Charles Spurgeon as his example for why the church would always be open, even if the weather was bad.

[Chad Williams]

When I was a kid our pastor never cancelled church, maybe Sunday School, but never church. It seems that pastors from the older generations were much more dilligent about keeping the doors open. Now days the churches around these parts cancel for the least bit of snow or ice. Sometimes it is not even on the road.

I think some of them and it sounds like a lot of you would rather just stay home. I guess that is what TV ministries are for.

[Chad Williams]

(02-01-2011 01:38 PM)Scorpio Wrote:  

(02-01-2011 01:06 PM)pblawman Wrote:  .......the service would be abbreviated......

In my experience, that would never happen. Ever.

Living in the Great Lakes we get all kinds of snow. This "blizzard" is supposed to be 12-14". Yawn. Wake me when we get 3 feet.

Anyway, whenever I deemed it not worth the trouble of shoveling the driveway to get to church (only to find the parking lot not plowed ) there was the obligatory message the following week that included heeps of guilt for those who didn't make it the previous week because of the weather.

The sermon always included the question "did you go to work when it was snowing?".

Warning......The following was my internal response/rant to the above question:

Why yes I did. Becasue I'm paid to be there you moron. You're paid to be here in church, just 2 days a week. If I had a gig like that I'd tough out any weather or illness becasue I'd always have the next day off. Try working 5 or 6 days in a row, where you get only so many vacation days or sick days to use. You get 5 days off a WEEK. And don't tell me you need to be "out of the world" in order to prepare a message. That might be why they are 50-60 minutes long. Big jerk. Go f*** yourself.

OK. Rant over. That felt good.

Sounds like somebodys a little bitter. It has been said you will make the effort to accomplsh something if that is where your priorities lie. God or mammon?

[pastor's wife]

(02-09-2011 08:53 AM)Chad Williams Wrote:  It has been said you will make the effort to accomplsh something if that is where your priorities lie. God or mammon?

I've definitely heard this said. The problem with it is confusing attending church events vs. living for Jesus. My priority IS living for Christ, whole-heartedly. However, that may not mean I will constantly be in the church building. We believers are the church; the building's not the church. Do I need to gather with other believers to hear the Word, to pray together, and to praise God? Absolutely. Must I do it Sunday morning for Sunday school and church, Sunday night, and Wednesday night for prayer meeting? Those times are not in the Scriptures.

It's a false dichotomy to say "You must be in church every time we decide to hold a meeting or you're not putting God as a priority in your life." After many years in ministry, we're noticed that sometimes the people in church the most are the people doing the least for God. They're using the church to "hide" from the world, and while their knowledge of Scripture is increasing, they're not doing anything with that knowledge except just going to even more Bible studies.

[pastor's wife]

Also the pastor has the privilege of his work coinciding with church. He can provide for his family AND be at church at the same time. Everyone else MUST work at an outside job to make a living, and their free time is at a premium. Some free time should be spent at church worshipping, learning, and fellowshipping, but some needs to be spent with his family, investing in his children, showing them he loves them by spending time with them. Too many children do grow up bitter toward the things of the Lord because their parents put - not Jesus - but the church and its events before them. Church programs at some churches demand WAY too much time from people, and then when people don't like it, they're accused of not loving Jesus.

[Scorpio]

(02-09-2011 08:50 AM)Chad Williams Wrote:  I think some of them and it sounds like a lot of you would rather just stay home. I guess that is what TV ministries are for.

No. That's what football is for. What am I going to do for the next 7 months!

[Scorpio]

(02-09-2011 08:53 AM)Chad Williams Wrote:  Sounds like somebodys a little bitter......

I was just being honest. And I did give a warning

[Chad Williams]

(02-09-2011 03:22 PM)Scorpio Wrote:  

(02-09-2011 08:50 AM)Chad Williams Wrote:  I think some of them and it sounds like a lot of you would rather just stay home. I guess that is what TV ministries are for.

No. That's what football is for. What am I going to do for the next 7 months!

Go to church.

[Arie]

During the rare times our church was canceled or even if it was open but attendance was sparse, the pastor made sure to mention the next Sunday that he expected the offering to be double what it normally was.