Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Is This What It's All About?
**Disclaimer** Please do not take this as a church/standards/conviction bashing blog. It is strictly healthy, thought provoking material.
The other night, I took a break from church. I was just exhausted, and I knew it was the best thing to do. Instead of going to church that Sunday night, I went out to eat with my brother and I relaxed at the house. I went to bed at a decent hour, and I was able to wake up Monday morning, a bit refreshed.
Why?
Going to church is exhausting! It's even more exhausting when you are involved in almost every ministry. Think about it! I have choir practice, music practice for youth services, and pre-service prayer before service even starts. Then I praise sing during service and actually participate during service. Then after service, I usually do my youth leader duties with the kids, whether that's just spending time with them or chaperoning them out in the gym.
None of that even includes the time spent getting ready to go to church. I have to dig through the closet and find something appropriate to wear, aka, dress clothes. Then I have to curl my hair or put it up in some fashion. That all takes at least 20-30 minutes, if not longer. In total, I've spent about 3 hours preparing for church!
Pile on top of that a full work week as a teacher. That means my job doesn't end at 3:00 or even 5:00. There are after school activities such as sporting events, award banquets, dances, and plays that I have to be present for. Add to that youth obligations such as Drama Workshops, Clean up days, and fund raisers.
Evaluation
Is this healthy? Of course not! That's why I had to take a day off. It would be completely different if I didn't have a full time job. Church would be my only priority. Then I could live my life like the disciples. However, that's not reality.
Sometimes I wish going to church didn't have to be so difficult. I know the things I'm doing are helpful. Our revamped youth ministry is reaching out to new kids, we've had several new families attending, and revival is actually taking place. There just has to be a less demanding way to do this?
Why do I have to dress up for church? Why can't I worship God in my blue jean skirt and pony tail? Why do we have to praise sing every service? Why can't we throw tradition out the door and mix things up? Is this something God really requires? For some reason I thought he was more concerned with our heart and not our outer appearance.
Ruffled Feathers
Not everyone can see this though. There are people who get offended if someone wears jeans to church or, God forbid, has their shirt untucked. Let us not even discuss those who cannot worship without the proper praise and worship song being played.
What we're doing isn't wrong, but that doesn't make it right either. Somewhere we've put up an image of what we think God wants, when in fact we have no idea.
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!
The other night, I took a break from church. I was just exhausted, and I knew it was the best thing to do. Instead of going to church that Sunday night, I went out to eat with my brother and I relaxed at the house. I went to bed at a decent hour, and I was able to wake up Monday morning, a bit refreshed.
Why?
Going to church is exhausting! It's even more exhausting when you are involved in almost every ministry. Think about it! I have choir practice, music practice for youth services, and pre-service prayer before service even starts. Then I praise sing during service and actually participate during service. Then after service, I usually do my youth leader duties with the kids, whether that's just spending time with them or chaperoning them out in the gym.
None of that even includes the time spent getting ready to go to church. I have to dig through the closet and find something appropriate to wear, aka, dress clothes. Then I have to curl my hair or put it up in some fashion. That all takes at least 20-30 minutes, if not longer. In total, I've spent about 3 hours preparing for church!
Pile on top of that a full work week as a teacher. That means my job doesn't end at 3:00 or even 5:00. There are after school activities such as sporting events, award banquets, dances, and plays that I have to be present for. Add to that youth obligations such as Drama Workshops, Clean up days, and fund raisers.
Evaluation
Is this healthy? Of course not! That's why I had to take a day off. It would be completely different if I didn't have a full time job. Church would be my only priority. Then I could live my life like the disciples. However, that's not reality.
Sometimes I wish going to church didn't have to be so difficult. I know the things I'm doing are helpful. Our revamped youth ministry is reaching out to new kids, we've had several new families attending, and revival is actually taking place. There just has to be a less demanding way to do this?
Why do I have to dress up for church? Why can't I worship God in my blue jean skirt and pony tail? Why do we have to praise sing every service? Why can't we throw tradition out the door and mix things up? Is this something God really requires? For some reason I thought he was more concerned with our heart and not our outer appearance.
Ruffled Feathers
Not everyone can see this though. There are people who get offended if someone wears jeans to church or, God forbid, has their shirt untucked. Let us not even discuss those who cannot worship without the proper praise and worship song being played.
What we're doing isn't wrong, but that doesn't make it right either. Somewhere we've put up an image of what we think God wants, when in fact we have no idea.
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!
# posted by 99 Blogger @ 5:10 PM 
Comments:
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Come on, somebody! (meant as a preacherly encouragement. lol.)
It's great to be involved, but everybody needs a break. And I agree with you that perhaps A/Ps have taken the routine/tradition thing a wee bit too far.
It's great to be involved, but everybody needs a break. And I agree with you that perhaps A/Ps have taken the routine/tradition thing a wee bit too far.
Go any way! Wear your jean skirt, your ponytail, and your flip flops. That is what I wear every Wednesday night. I come home from work, kick off my heels, peel off my stockings, take down my hair and slip into something comfortable (usually a solid colored tee-shirt and denim skirt with flip-flops). I go to church refreshed, at ease and ready for the spirit to move.
On Sunday mornings (where I teach the youth class) I wear a dark denim skirt or something casual like that, with a blouse, my hair in a pony-tail or pulled back, and real shoes (not flip flops or tennis shoes). Sunday night I dress up, dress skirt, blouse, heels, Pentecostal hair-do (but no panty-hose, they are the bane of my existence). :-)
On Sunday mornings (where I teach the youth class) I wear a dark denim skirt or something casual like that, with a blouse, my hair in a pony-tail or pulled back, and real shoes (not flip flops or tennis shoes). Sunday night I dress up, dress skirt, blouse, heels, Pentecostal hair-do (but no panty-hose, they are the bane of my existence). :-)
# posted by 
: 9:03 AM, May 09, 2007
: 9:03 AM, May 09, 2007
Sundays are the longest days of the week for me. Don't you love it when the pastor gives you a ministry position just so you will show up.
AMEN! For those of us who choose God as a lifestyle, Sunday is NOT A DAY OF REST FOR SURE! My husband works on Saturday and has no time to spend with his family. Our church has only one service the last Sunday of the month and we love the fact that we can just hang out with each other and BREATHE. Something's wrong with the whole picture. Stop the madness and let us get off for a minute!
# posted by : 10:42 AM, May 09, 2007
: 10:42 AM, May 09, 2007
Yes, most people have hectic lives.
But cutting church is not usually a wise choice.
Did you consider cutting work? Are you really required at every special event?
Pray for God's leading so that He can direct what you choose to miss.
But cutting church is not usually a wise choice.
Did you consider cutting work? Are you really required at every special event?
Pray for God's leading so that He can direct what you choose to miss.
# posted by : 11:55 AM, May 09, 2007
: 11:55 AM, May 09, 2007
Church does not equal God, church can be a gateway for God but it isn't the same. There is nothing wrong with being committed to your church, but it isn't your most important obligation.
1. God
2. Your mental health (ie not letting yourself be driven crazy by others)
3. Family
4. Church
5. Work
6. Friends
7. Social Obligations
8. everything else
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1. God
2. Your mental health (ie not letting yourself be driven crazy by others)
3. Family
4. Church
5. Work
6. Friends
7. Social Obligations
8. everything else
# posted by : 1:23 PM, May 09, 2007
: 1:23 PM, May 09, 2007 << Home
