An Off Sunday (Visiting Church #42)

As I blog about the churches we visit, I desire to focus on the positive. While each congregation has their good points and their weak areas, my goal in my posts is to share their more encouraging moments, to celebrate what is right.

Today, I find that hard to do.

Perhaps I’m weary from our sojourn, that the pull to return home overshadows the allure of adventure. Possibly, I’m just tired of singing hymns with Old English words to the drone of organ music.

Maybe too many people have greeted me with a smile and handshake, desiring for our return, but never bothering to share their name or ask ours. Could it be I’ve heard too many messages that divide Jesus’ church rather than unify it?

Or is fifty-two weeks simply too long to flitter about from one church to the next? Perchance, I am merely tired.

In my book, there will indeed be a chapter for today’s destination. But right now, my words paint too disparaging a view of this Sunday’s visit.

Time, I pray, will produce a better perspective, not one dripping with unwarranted praise but celebrating the positive without ignoring the negative. Today my perspective is out of balance.

I arrived at church with high expectation but ended up disappointed. Though this congregation isn’t innocent in this regard, I suspect most any church would have suffered the same fate from me today.

It’s an issue of bad timing as much as anything else.

I’ll end by encouraging you to contemplate the single note I jotted down from today’s sermon from 2 Corinthians 9:6-15: “There’s a connection between giving and redemption.”

[Read about Church #41 and Church #43, start at the beginning of our journey, or learn more about Church #42.]

My wife and I visited a different Christian Church every Sunday for a year. This is our story. Get your copy of 52 Churches today, available in ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

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