Church for Travelers
I missed church last Sunday. Possessed of a chronic back pain problem, I have to take care not to over use mine, and, well, I just blew it Saturday doing yard work. I woke Sunday with disabling pain.
Over the years I've come to miss my Sunday morning church time, when I don't get there. The whole next week lacks strength and spirit. But I've also learned that the next best thing to being there is to visit "Sunday morning church" via television. My church has Monday night services, but that just doesn't make it with me. On Sunday I looked over the lineup and found four options: Jimmy Swaggert, a televangelist in whom I lost confidence years ago after he sobbed publicly over his forced "grave sexual sin" confession; a Catholic mass; Joel Osteen; and Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power." The Catholic mass concentrated a lot on Mary, Jesus' mother--too much so for a Protestant like me. Joel Osteen's message was way over-the-top, promising the members of his congregation "explosive blessings $$$" from God. This doesn't really hold up well against Jesus' message, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up . . . treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-20 NIV).
That left my standard choice, Schuller's "Hour of Power." He always has a good message any Christian would find divinely inspired and uplifting. But Dr. Schuller is getting old and preaching less. This week his daughter taught the Lord's Prayer in an object lesson, using tools in a bucket. Okay, but not exactly my idea of a sermon. His television show also needs more financial support, if it is to survive.
Our Christian churches ought to pool our efforts and provide a Sunday morning service nationwide that is comfortable to all denominations. Not only would this meet a vital spiritual need for all their traveling members, it would also serve as a good missionary tool, introducing the Christian faith to God- and faith-seekers. We denominations as a rule tend not to do too much of anything together, unless there is an active ecumenical effort in the community, so it would take some gigantic effort. But it could be done, and we could even cross Canadian lines. After all, didn't Jesus say in John 17 that He wanted His church to be one? What a ministry that would be!
What do you think? Would you use it, if you were ill or away from your home church on a Sunday?
Looking for more good Sunday morning church options,
Margaret
Over the years I've come to miss my Sunday morning church time, when I don't get there. The whole next week lacks strength and spirit. But I've also learned that the next best thing to being there is to visit "Sunday morning church" via television. My church has Monday night services, but that just doesn't make it with me. On Sunday I looked over the lineup and found four options: Jimmy Swaggert, a televangelist in whom I lost confidence years ago after he sobbed publicly over his forced "grave sexual sin" confession; a Catholic mass; Joel Osteen; and Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power." The Catholic mass concentrated a lot on Mary, Jesus' mother--too much so for a Protestant like me. Joel Osteen's message was way over-the-top, promising the members of his congregation "explosive blessings $$$" from God. This doesn't really hold up well against Jesus' message, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up . . . treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-20 NIV).
That left my standard choice, Schuller's "Hour of Power." He always has a good message any Christian would find divinely inspired and uplifting. But Dr. Schuller is getting old and preaching less. This week his daughter taught the Lord's Prayer in an object lesson, using tools in a bucket. Okay, but not exactly my idea of a sermon. His television show also needs more financial support, if it is to survive.
Our Christian churches ought to pool our efforts and provide a Sunday morning service nationwide that is comfortable to all denominations. Not only would this meet a vital spiritual need for all their traveling members, it would also serve as a good missionary tool, introducing the Christian faith to God- and faith-seekers. We denominations as a rule tend not to do too much of anything together, unless there is an active ecumenical effort in the community, so it would take some gigantic effort. But it could be done, and we could even cross Canadian lines. After all, didn't Jesus say in John 17 that He wanted His church to be one? What a ministry that would be!
What do you think? Would you use it, if you were ill or away from your home church on a Sunday?
Looking for more good Sunday morning church options,
Margaret
This is where you can say that I must have been switched at birth.
ReplyDeleteI've not been inspired enough by a church service to miss it on a Sunday. I'm inspired by the world around me and the small blessings or miracles I see every day. I'm reminded often through these blessings what God's role is for me. If I get overwhelmed he reminds me why I'm here and gives me the strength to continue.
So church isn't what teaches me the blessings of his world or how to have a deeper relationship with God. It's life experiences, both good and bad, that strengthen and inspire.
People respond in different ways. It's great that you know and can identify yours.
ReplyDeleteLove, Mom