There’s a lot of talk on facebook lately, promoting National Back to Church Sunday on September 18th. There's even an edgy video!
Let’s be sure, this is great! If you aren’t going to church, YES, go back. I can't emphasize that enough. But the existence of a "National Back to Church Sunday" seems to presuppose a "National Stop Going to Church Sunday." This is not true.
I often hear Pastors and Laity lament a general lack of attendance at certain times of the year. They long for their members to seek Christ in His Word and Sacraments, desiring that people remain a part of the body of Christ rather than stray from it. I know they do, because I’m one of them.
However, instead of promoting National Back to Church Sunday, let us speak plainly about the Gospel. Preach and teach the value, the benefit, the blessing of Christ’s Word, His Body, His Blood. Make people thirst and hunger for it more than their own life, so that we might never need to encourage them to "come back to church" and receive the sacrament, but rather they beg to receive it.
Let’s be sure, this is great! If you aren’t going to church, YES, go back. I can't emphasize that enough. But the existence of a "National Back to Church Sunday" seems to presuppose a "National Stop Going to Church Sunday." This is not true.
I often hear Pastors and Laity lament a general lack of attendance at certain times of the year. They long for their members to seek Christ in His Word and Sacraments, desiring that people remain a part of the body of Christ rather than stray from it. I know they do, because I’m one of them.
However, instead of promoting National Back to Church Sunday, let us speak plainly about the Gospel. Preach and teach the value, the benefit, the blessing of Christ’s Word, His Body, His Blood. Make people thirst and hunger for it more than their own life, so that we might never need to encourage them to "come back to church" and receive the sacrament, but rather they beg to receive it.
“Therefore, you must not make any law about this, as the pope does. Only set forth clearly the benefit and harm, the need and use, the danger and the blessing, connected with this Sacrament. Then the people will come on their own without you forcing them. But if they do not come, let them go their way and tell them that such people belong to the devil who do not regard nor feel their great need and God’s gracious help. But if you do not urge this, or make a law or make it bitter, it is your fault if they despise the Sacrament. What else could they be than lazy if you sleep and are silent? Therefore, look to it, pastors and preachers. Our office has now become a different thing from what it was under the pope. It is now become a serious and saving office. So it now involves much more trouble and labor, danger and trials. In addition, it gains little reward and thanks in the world. But Christ Himself will be our reward if we labor faithfully. To this end may the Father of all grace help us, to whom be praise and thanks forever through Christ, our Lord! Amen.”
Martin Luther, Preface to the Small Catechism
One of my favorite sections of one of my favorite writings of Luther. The Preface! Fantastic.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Both prefaces to the Large and Small Catechisms are some of Luther's best!
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