I don’t get it.
Maybe it is the fact I spent 23 of my almost 30 years of life in Texas (and most of that in West Texas, where we spent Christmas in shorts chasing the tumbleweeds outside. Hey, we were poor. That’s how we had fun. Okay?) but even after working in several churches over the last six years, I still do not understand why churches would have services during inclement weather.
I’m not a very logical person. I really am not. But something logical inside me asks,
“Why would you have people driving to church when there’s an 18 car pile up on the interstate because of the ice?”
Why not provide resources for families or neighborhoods or community groups to “have church” without having to really travel in the weather? Use the internet to distribute material prepared ahead of time.
Something.
Anything.
Since many of you work or serve in churches, and by reading my Twitter stream today I can see most churches are choosing to stay open regardless of how inclement the weather…may I be so bold to simply ask…
Why?
I really don’t understand and this is not a criticism at all…Please help me not feel like such a heathen for wanting to keep people off the roads when the weather outside is frightful.
Comments
131 responses to “Inclement Weather and Church Closings”
It certainly is a judgment call. I am from Massachusetts originally where you only cancel if there is a bona fide blizzard. I now live here in Tennessee where 2 inches qualifies as a blizzard.
I think that for some people, the gathering of believers is a crucial part of their week. They may be going into a battleground all week and knowing that they can go into the house of God on Sunday and actually be with fellow believers- even if it is only 2 or 3 (which of course, the Bible says, God is in their midst) will give them the empowerment they need to get through the week.
Also, if we look at the church like a hospital, than it should be open. Places like the Dream Center in LA are open 24/7 because it is a “hospital” meeting people’s spiritual needs. Yes, it could be done from home but maybe there is something to be said for being in an environment with other believers saturated in the presence of God.
I think people should exercise common sense and if they can’t drive in bad weather don’t go, but I will also say that my generation (the 20-30 somethings) often look for reasons to justify the forsaking of the assembly of believers. In some parts of the world, believers are dying to meet. Here we sometimes seem to be looking for reasons to not- it’s too cold, it’s raining, I have another obligation, etc.
Money. The offering is never doubled the next week to compensate for the missed snow sunday. And…even if you get the word out by website, tv scroll, radio, there are always people that make it to the church.
With a congregation of 500 if 10% make it why can’t they do a service. If only a guitarist, simple music, no powerpoints, no fancy lights, Word of God can be preached. Children can sit in service if volunteers (that live farther away) don’t make it in.
And speaking of…. children actually can sit with you in service. Pack them a “quiet bag” to keep them occupied if they are of a noisy age.
Just my two cents…