I do not believe that churches should have multiple morning services on the Lord’s day for their congregants to choose from (ex. 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30). My main reasoning is two fold: 1) it unnecessarily divides the body; and 2) it forces the services into a cookie cutter time constraint. I will address these two reasons, common objections to my statement, and finally provide solutions to the possible problems created by doing away with multiple services.<\/p>\n
At the outset, I would like to note that this is not a personal shot at anyone, but it is a shot at the status quo of American church culture. Far too many things in said culture are done simply because “it works” or because of human preferences; or simply because people don’t think about why they do things the way they do. That’s got to stop because it’s not biblical.<\/p>\n
First, I am against multiple Lord’s Day services because it unnecessarily divides the body. Individual believers make up the body of Christ. Each believer within a local body has certain gifts or talents with which they in some way edify the other believers in their communion, and vice versa. But how can we experience the blessing each one of us brings if we are divided? How can the body be whole if all the eyes are in the 9:30 service, all the ears are in the 10:30 service, and all the noses in the 11:30 service? That would be a dysfunctional or deformed body. This is Paul’s line of thought (though not in terms of multiple services, as that was not a thing in the 1st century church, which is yet another reason to be against multiple services) in 1 Corinthians 12 where he says, “But God has so composed the body…that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another” (1 Cor. 12v24b-25). Most churches are already so divided up into things like age-graded ministries, how can we continue to chop up the body into nearly unrecognizable parts? How can we decompose that which God has composed?<\/p>\n
Second, multiple Lord’s day services forces the service into a cookie cutter time constraint. This should be obvious, if a church has multiple back-to-back services, they are forced to perfectly time everything to keep everything running on time and smoothly. If we do this, we cannot be so arrogant as to ask God for revival, when we leave no room, in way of time, for the Spirit do His work. What if the Spirit prompts more prayer, longer preaching, an extra song, or more repentance and confession? It shocks me that so many charismatic churches who claim to be all about the Spirit’s movement tell God He can only move within their time frame so they can keep the services on time. I think, in this, many of them have shown their cards: it’s not really a “move of the Spirit” in their churches, but human emotionalism.<\/p>\n
Common Objections:<\/strong><\/p>\n I would first like to address a general purpose many churches have for multiple services. Many churches have multiple services because they have “traditional worship” and “modern worship.” What if someone doesn’t like the other kind of worship? This is a major issue. This kind of church is basing their worship of God on human preferences. It is a whole other blog post, but this is the wrong approach. The worship of God is not about man or his preferences; it is about God and His preference. We are not to base our worship services on human preference, but on God’s preference.<\/p>\n A second objection may be that some people prefer an earlier service and others may prefer a later one. Again, same argument, this is basing services on human preference, and catering to everyone’s desires – not how churches are to be run. If you can’t wake up earlier to be with God’s people on the Lord’s Day, repent. And if you refuse to go to anything but an early service, so you can get to the restaurant first and not miss the football game, repent. There are no hard and fast laws on church time, so it could be different for individual churches, but again, because some people in your church prefer different times than others is not a valid reason to have multiple services.<\/p>\n Underlying both of these objections is the issue of individuals not wanting to sacrificially love and serve one another, but would rather have everything about themselves. Sometimes we have to give up our preferences in order to faithfully serve in a local congregation.<\/p>\n Finally I want to offer two solutions to valid issue that may arise from having only one morning service. The problem is that it could be that you have too many people to fit into one morning service. I see two biblically valid options, though one is more preferable than the other.<\/p>\n 1) If your church is too big to fit into one morning service than get a bigger building. There are no excuses for not doing things God’s way. It’s worth it to get a bigger building to be together as a body. However this may not be possible for multiple reasons such as money or space. Therefore the second option should be acted upon.<\/p>\n 2) If your church is too big to fit into one morning service then plant a church! There is a dire need for more biblical churches, plant one! Send qualified men as elders and a portion of the congregation to another location to become their own autonomous church body. Many don’t do this simply because of the pride of being able to boast incredibly large numbers. Shame on us.<\/p>\n I hope this has been thought provoking, as I long to see a change toward more biblical churches in America. Again, no shots were taken at individual persons, just at the way things are. Let us return to the scriptures trusting that they are sufficient for all of life and all of our church life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I do not believe that churches should have multiple morning services on the Lord’s day for their congregants to choose from (ex. 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30). My main reasoning is two fold: 1) it unnecessarily divides the body; and 2) it forces the services into a cookie cutter time constraint. I will address these two […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":685,"featured_media":3464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,32],"tags":[115,205,281,557,678,699,847,1014,1056,1119,1196,1367],"class_list":{"0":"post-3463","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-culture","8":"category-theology","9":"tag-against","10":"tag-bible","11":"tag-church","12":"tag-god","13":"tag-jenkins","14":"tag-joshua","15":"tag-multiple","16":"tag-rags","17":"tag-riches","18":"tag-services","19":"tag-structure","20":"tag-worship","21":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2017\/12\/img_1059.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1265,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/a-small-church-in-a-mega-church-world\/","url_meta":{"origin":3463,"position":0},"title":"A Small Church in a Mega-Church World","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"February 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"There are times when pastors and members of small churches can feel discouraged simply by looking at their numbers. The people of God long to see their churches full as souls are being saved and shepherded. It can be tempting to look online at your favorite preacher\u2019s church and see\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Christ\"","block_context":{"text":"Christ","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/tag\/christ\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4357,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/christianity-as-religion\/","url_meta":{"origin":3463,"position":1},"title":"Christianity as Religion","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"February 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Christianity is in fact a religion. Indeed it is the one true religion. The effort to trade in the timeless structure and order of the Church for \"it's just a relationship\" goo is part to blame for where we are. You can't build civilizations on goo. You need a firm\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Church History"","block_context":{"text":"Church History","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/church-history\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/02\/churchbuilding.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/02\/churchbuilding.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/02\/churchbuilding.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/02\/churchbuilding.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4011,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/for-christian-architecture\/","url_meta":{"origin":3463,"position":2},"title":"For Christian Architecture","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"January 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Why does it matter if a Christian congregation gathers in a coffee shop or a cathedral? A home or a chapel? Does it matter? I believe it does. I am of course not referring to our brothers and sisters in Asia or various persecuted parts of the world where they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Culture","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/01\/img_0764.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/01\/img_0764.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2020\/01\/img_0764.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":711,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/why-as-a-christian-i-do-not-hold-to-traditional-marriage\/","url_meta":{"origin":3463,"position":3},"title":"Why, As a Christian, I Do Not Hold to “Traditional Marriage”","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"February 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"For quite a while my inner being has cringed during the times I hear Christians use the term \"traditional marriage.\" However, I have not been able to put my finger exactly on why, since I am a Christian who holds to the rich history of the reformation, and the sufficiency\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Culture","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":470,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/book-review-onward-by-russell-moore\/","url_meta":{"origin":3463,"position":4},"title":"Book Review: Onward by Russell Moore","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"November 17, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"\"The Bible Belt is teetering toward collapse, and I say let it fall.\" You cannot even escape the introduction to Russell Moore's,\u00a0Onward\u00a0without hearing canon blasts of gospel truth. This book takes on the nature of the gospel in the sense that the gospel is both offensive and life giving.\u00a0Onward\u00a0is chalked\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"book\"","block_context":{"text":"book","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/tag\/book\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2015\/11\/onward-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2015\/11\/onward-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2015\/11\/onward-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2015\/11\/onward-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2015\/11\/onward-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4344,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-weapons-of-our-warfare-jehoshaphat-vs-the-horde\/","url_meta":{"origin":3463,"position":5},"title":"The Weapons of Our Warfare: Jehoshaphat vs. The Horde","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"February 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"After this\u00a0the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites,[a]\u00a0came against Jehoshaphat for battle.\u00a02\u00a0Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, \u201cA great multitude is coming against you from Edom,[b]\u00a0from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in\u00a0Hazazon-tamar\u201d (that is,\u00a0Engedi).\u00a03\u00a0Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face\u00a0to seek the\u00a0Lord, and\u00a0proclaimed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2021\/02\/jehoshaphat.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/685"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}