I will probably get in trouble for this post, but I am really disturbed about this announcement in a church’s email to its members:

As a reminder… Our new Worship and Sunday Community times go into effect June 7.

• Sanctuary will be at 8:30a and 10:15a.
• Worship Center will gather at 9:30a and 11a.
• Most of our Sunday communities will span 9:45a-10:45a, but several will gather earlier or later.

As we’ve already mentioned… grief accompanies any change. As the church works to smooth out wrinkles over the coming months, please be especially sensitive to those experiencing frustration or loss. Be ready to listen authentically, encourage openness to new things, and pass along relevant comments.

What am I disturbed about? Do you see it?

We are a wealthy, spoiled country whose churches have raised up weak, self-centered “disciples” if changing service times causes someone to experience “frustration or loss.” The rest of the members are called to “listen authentically and encourage openness to new things…”

“…grief accompanies any change.”

Really? What kind of change are we talking about?

• 8:30 Sanctuary, no change.
• 10:00 Sanctuary, goes from 1000 – 11:00 to 10:15 – 11:15. Whoa! 15 minutes later.
• 9:00 Worship Center, goes to 9:30 – 10:30, a whopping 30-minute change.
• 11:00 Worship Center, no change.

I’m having trouble mustering sympathy for “grief” and “frustration or loss” on changing service times. I wrote on May 24 about a mother who came home from a business trip to find her 3-year-old son shot to death by his father who then committed suicide. THAT is worth experiencing “frustration and loss” over! NOT changing service times by a few minutes. (Maybe those of you with pastor’s hearts can help me with this.)

Let’s change the comparison: there are millions of Christians in China who would be delighted to have a building to meet in, and a chance to meet without the threat of their pastor or any of the members being hauled off to prison. More on that tomorrow. Please stay tuned.

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11.35 – 38, ESV)

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2.3, 4, ESV)