posts

by Bridget Capparuccia

Through my now 10 years of working in church, it is a decade-long observation of mine, that, for a lot of “church people,” church is never “in season”.

Working as a church musician has brought much joy, but also much frustration and sadness.  The music program is, of course, one of the major programs of a church and essential to its worship.  As the director of a music program, it is frustrating to be tasked with “involving” people who, simply put, do not want to be involved; to make opportunities for people who do not want these particular opportunities.  There’s always an excuse to put church on the backburner.  One needs to “wait for the season” of this or that to be over (i.e., soccer, football, baseball, summer, winter, spring, fall…) until they can commit to the church; before they can commit to the programs and ministries that the church tries so hard to give to those whose names are written on the rolls; commit to the programs that are free and available to any and all if they would simply come.

Time flies by quickly and it wasn’t until recently that it dawned on me that it’s just never “church season.” The year starts and the excuses are given “Oh it’s just the new year. Once things settle down from the holidays, people will be more committed in their attendance.” The holidays settle, the decorations are packed away, and we find that the return to school and various sports seasons are yet another viable excuse to keep people from participating in church activities.

We plug along waiting for the next season. We come to spring break when we just have to wait until “after spring travels are over”. What do we have next? The recovery from spring break and the return to the schedules and activities constantly vying for our time. “Oh, it’s just summertime… people will buckle down and commit after the summer break. You, know, traveling and the beach…”

Finally, August! Do we find the summer travelers ready to be back at their church activities? Alas, no. We now find that its “football season” or “basketball season” or “dance recital season” or “back to school” season. It’s school activity after school activity. And to make matters worse, which could be the subject of another article, the public schools at some point in relatively recent history began putting activities on Wednesday evenings, an evening historically reserved for church activities. And in recent years, they’ve begun scheduling games on Sunday mornings!  It’s school and/or community sports held on church day. To me, this is a direct affront to God’s sabbath and should be a line in the sand for God’s people.  Even Sundays are not “church season” any more!

When will church ever be in season? When will the body of Christ make time for church to be a priority in their lives? When will the people of God begin to put Christ first?  I will tell you when: when we choose it. It will be Church Season when we, the Church, make it so. The world will always be there, luring you, tempting you, and pressuring you to disavow Christ. You’ll be penalized if your school attendance or your dance or sport attendance isn’t perfect. But will you be penalized by not showing up for choir practice? Handbell practice? Youth group? No. So guess what gets thrown out? 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” you say, “I’m not disavowing Christ just because my son had a soccer game on a Sunday morning.  And plus, if he doesn’t show up to that game, he won’t be able to play in the playoffs, and he may not get a scholarship. You’re being legalistic!”  Friends, I’m sure a game won’t forfeit your salvation.  I’m not legalistic.  But you know it’s not just one game, it’s a pattern; it is a lifestyle.  And you don’t lose your salvation because you went to a ball game on a Sunday.  Perhaps (and I say perhaps – something to think about here) salvation is not something you ever had as evidenced by your ready willingness to put so many other things before your worship of the Lord and fellowship with His people (Hebrews 10:26).   

We teach our children and youth the importance of “team building” or “sticking it out” for their sports. We teach them the values of teamwork- at school, in dance, on the football field. So why then do we not show them through our own actions the very same? What we are in fact teaching our children is the importance of being self-centered and selfish; the importance of doing what makes them happy in the moment. We’re teaching them to be constantly on the go, to not just “be still and know…” But when it is time to take that break for “mental health”, it’s a break to the beach or it’s a break to Disney World. It’s a break, “on the go,” over there.  We are teaching, indoctrinating even, our children to put God last.  And we justify it by saying that God is a graceful God, He will forgive. As long as we’re not being naughty, but nice… (Sounds like someone else I know. Maybe we’re confusing God with some lesser demigods.)  What we are ultimately not teaching our children is that God is a holy God and requires – even demands – holiness from us. “Be holy as God is holy.”  (Leviticus 11:44a, Peter 1:14-16.)

The church needs your commitment. Christ longs for your commitment. Commitment that you simply cannot give as long as every other thing in your life takes priority. The Church as a whole is condemning the church – condemning the church to empty classrooms…condemning the one or two children or youth who regularly show up on Wednesday evenings to loneliness and frustration in being the only ones…condemning them to come to the conclusion that maybe ‘cool kids’ don’t go to church. 

The Church is condemning their musicians to late nights of extra work, frustration, and tears over constantly changing the already chosen music to something simpler because not enough people showed up for practice.  The Church is condemning their youth and children’s leaders to utter frustration in building a program but giving no spiritual backbone to parents to ensure that their kids take part.  The Church is condemning their pastors to exasperation who want to build up a place where people can grow spiritually and emotionally but whose preaching is in vain and then becomes hollow and useless as he relegates his sermons to what the people want to hear, not in accordance with what God’s Word teaches.  In essence, the church is shooting itself in the foot by not regularly teaching and living out what God says about being a holy people, living for Him, and offering ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-3; and the rest of the Bible). 

Wake up, Church! Wake up and reorganize your priorities. Raise your children in church. Be in that building every time the doors are open. Commit to the choir you half-heartedly sing in whenever you’re “free,” as much as you commit to the beach during the “on” season.  For Christians, our lives should revolve around a relationship with Christ, with His people (in the local church) and in accordance with His Word, with a momentary “stepping into” the world.  Instead, for many church people, the world is their home and life, with a momentary “stepping into” the Church.  I fear when Jesus returns, He will indeed find “no faith on the earth” (Luke 18:8).  What He will find is a lot of people crying, “Lord, Lord…” but having only a form of godliness that will be unknown and unrecognized by Him (Matthew 7:21; 2 Timothy 3:1-5).

I think it is time to turn this thing around.  Let us all simply put Christ first in our lives, in our homes, and in our churches, and see what God will do with it.  The only thing to lose is eternity.