So this Sunday a number of churches will not be having a service. I’ve read a few articles about it and they’ve given some decent reasons why. Most of them emphasize the importance of honoring family time. Some acknowledge the general low attendance of previous years that Christmas fell on a Sunday, and wanting those who volunteer not to feel obligated to come. I think most of those reasons make a lot of sense. But, it does give opportunity to question what the real purpose of church is.

“Church” as we think of today is an essential component of any Christian persons life, at least we hold it to be so. Anyone, you know who is not going to church on a regular basis you probably consider being in a slump, a struggle with their faith, falling away or something other then a healthy Christian. Skipping church for anything but a very good reason is looked down upon as well. So, why the collective decision to forgo church this Sunday?

What I wonder, and I think is worth considering, is that if this Sunday, because it is a time many people will be with others that they love and care about, is an appropriate enough day to skip church, then are there other days that are just as appropriate? And if there are reasons that are appropriate to skip church, then are we saying that church is not essential to be at EVERY week? So what IS the purpose of church then? If spending time with family on Sunday morning is more important THIS Sunday, why isn’t it more important EVERY Sunday?