“If Christianity does not relate to the realities of Monday to Saturday as experienced by the ordinary church member, then it is just another religion.” (The Equipping Pastor, p. xiv)
R. Paul Stevens and Phil Collins, the authors of those
words, well-articulate the need for a connection between day one and the other
six.
Christ followers do not settle for a one-day religion.
On occasion, quite rare thankfully, a person knowing the nature of my vocation asks me in a mostly joking manner, “What do you do the other six days of the week?” While the question suggests a less than impressive answer, it really is a good question for all pastors . . . and poets . . . and doctors . . . and teachers . . . and house painters . . . and dog catchers . . . and me to answer. Any person who “gives” a portion of one day to God through participating in (or, at least, showing up to) worship, should answer the question, “What do you do the other six days of the week?”
So what would your answer be?
While I know that the inquisitors seek more a laugh than a response, I can still use the opportunity to reflect on an answer that I will share only with myself. My reflection can be sharpened with the use of soome worthy reflection questions.
1) Did I sleep enough this week?
2) Did I exercise this week?
3) How did I show my love for my wife this week?
Christ followers do not settle for a one-day religion.
On occasion, quite rare thankfully, a person knowing the nature of my vocation asks me in a mostly joking manner, “What do you do the other six days of the week?” While the question suggests a less than impressive answer, it really is a good question for all pastors . . . and poets . . . and doctors . . . and teachers . . . and house painters . . . and dog catchers . . . and me to answer. Any person who “gives” a portion of one day to God through participating in (or, at least, showing up to) worship, should answer the question, “What do you do the other six days of the week?”
So what would your answer be?
While I know that the inquisitors seek more a laugh than a response, I can still use the opportunity to reflect on an answer that I will share only with myself. My reflection can be sharpened with the use of soome worthy reflection questions.
1) Did I sleep enough this week?
2) Did I exercise this week?
3) How did I show my love for my wife this week?
4) How did I show my love for my kids this week?
5) Did I pray more than fret this week?
6) Did I smile more than scowl?
7) Did I use my ears more than my mouth?
Notice that?
Notice that none of the seven questions ask much, if any, about any religious practices? I advocate for personal prayer time, Bible reading, Small Group attendance, sharing the truth of Christ, and the like; and I encourage all who will listen to participate in such spiritual disciplines. However, what happens when a person “masters” those four tasks yet fails to rest, show love, smile, listen, and genuinely care for their own health? Does he really connect his one-day religion with the other six? Does she really allow her faith to flourish?
Jesus said . . .
5) Did I pray more than fret this week?
6) Did I smile more than scowl?
7) Did I use my ears more than my mouth?
Notice that?
Notice that none of the seven questions ask much, if any, about any religious practices? I advocate for personal prayer time, Bible reading, Small Group attendance, sharing the truth of Christ, and the like; and I encourage all who will listen to participate in such spiritual disciplines. However, what happens when a person “masters” those four tasks yet fails to rest, show love, smile, listen, and genuinely care for their own health? Does he really connect his one-day religion with the other six? Does she really allow her faith to flourish?
Jesus said . . .
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment." Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)
Would I stretch His words too far if I paraphrased them as . . .
“Love the Lord your God with your Sunday,
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
and Saturday.”
I think not.
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