Man-Centered Non-Worship

Rather than being guided by the Word of God, churches are more and more coming to be guided by Hallmark.

Typically, the people of God gather for worship on Sunday to celebrate what the Bible denominates "The Lord's Day." But now, as churches run farther and farther away from Biblical principles and embrace worship forms and styles that are according to their own whims, pastors/church leaders tell people to stay home for the "special days" of the calender year, the most recent being Father's Day.

A local church, one that prides itself in being cutting edge and appealing to the ungodly, has told its congregation members to forsake the assembling together this Lord's Day in order that fathers may spend time with their families. Instead of having Sunday services where one can gather with the family of God to honor their Heavenly Father they are encouraging their fathers to lead their own families in worship that day.

I suppose that family worship every day of the week is not promoted in this church. If it was, fathers would already be spending a great deal of time with their families. I also suppose that families are not encouraged to worship together each Lord's day in this church (certainly not morning and evening!) because, if they were, they would not have to take a day off so that fathers could be with their families. But since the fathers are not with their children throughout the week and on the Lord's day (which is usually a cause for church discipline), corporate worship must be canceled in order to accommodate.

Though divine worship will not be held on Sunday, this church will be observing the sacred event of "Man Fest" on Saturday. Consisting of a car/motorcycle show, the eating of red meat, manly games (such as archery, fishing, etc.) and much more, Man Fest is certain to be a real blast. (But those of us who are males who do not enjoy such "manly" activities, but prefer classical music, literature, and thick books of theology, will probably find the time better spent elsewhere.)

Truly, man-centered worship has truly supplanted Christ-centered worship. The fifth commandment (Honoring one's father) has supplanted the first, second, third, and fourth, (worship God alone, in his way, with the right heart, on his appointed day). And, I believe, man's perceptions of manhood has supplanted man's true design and calling.