“I Want to Be More than a Sunday-Go-To-Meeting-Christian,” says an old-time song. For many, that means we take pride in attending church every time the doors are open. Some church traditions have a mid-week service and others have a Sunday evening service, with many having both. These, of course, are in addition to the Sunday School hour and the Sunday morning worship service.
But in Evangelicalism lately, more and more churches are abandoning the Sunday evening service. Is this a move toward a “lite” version of Christianity? Are such churches compromising or lowering their standards?
Most of the time the answer is clearly no. There are a variety of reasons for abandoning the Sunday evening service. And one reason is that the tradition of a Sunday night service is relatively new. The notion of a Sunday evening service dates to the revivalist days of the 1800s where this service would often be evangelistic in nature – and an early draw was the modern innovation of gas lamps or even electric lighting. But this is not entirely a new idea. Earlier, in both the Reformed and Puritan traditions, there were often second services held in the afternoon (when it was still light). The second service was often for catechism, and spending the day at church helped prevent people from profaning the Sabbath.
There is nothing wrong with additional church services, but we must remember that the very notion of a church service is not possible in some scenarios where the church is persecuted. Certainly the custom of the Church has had to change over the years. It appears that an evening service was the only one possible when slaves were members in NT times (and they had to work 7 days a week). Culture and regional preferences resulted in a variety of traditions over the centuries. The Bible doesn’t mandate specific meeting times, other than an emphasis on meeting on the Lord’s Day. We should not be hesitant to adapt to the culture we find ourselves in. Our age is so busy, that packing in an extra service on the Lord’s Day usually doesn’t lead to a more restful and worshipful reality. More services might be better, but must all worship and study be done in a formal church gathering? In many churches, the faithful are worn out from all the service they render for the church and don’t have enough energy left to get much out of the final service of the day. It seems the more active a church is, the more services it requires of its members–and the more obligated and stretched these members feel.
Many consevative churches eschew the evening service to make small groups easier to schedule. It isn’t about avoiding church so much as encouraging more effective ministry and fellowship. Other churches don’t want to ask too much of people preferring their members to focus on the primary message and enjoy rest and fellowship with their families.
An extra service may weigh down the congregation. It can become a measuring stick to see who is performing well. My legalistic heart and background probably clouds my perception, but I find such demands burdensome and have a hard time resisting the urge to measure up every chance I can. Worship should be about the Lord, not about us checking off boxes or jumping through hoops. Personally, I enjoy the freedom of an extra night with family – and more time to think on the things I’ve heard and studied. Every other Sunday afternoon we host a small group in our home. We can do this much more easily without the extra burden of another service.
I’m spurred to share my thoughts on this in light of a recent article from a Fundamental Baptist leader, Paul Chappel. His article is not intended to offend, but it is almost impossible not to read between the lines and see what he really thinks of churches that don’t have a Sunday evening service. Another pastor recently shared a response that was charitably written and helpful. Reading the two posts back to back can give a fuller picture and provide a helpful contrast in evaluating this topic.
Don’t get me wrong, Sunday evening services can be wonderful. There is nothing wrong with churches choosing to meet regularly in this way. But neither is there anything wrong with churches choosing to drop such a service. May we view people on both sides of this question with respect and love. May God bless us as we seek to follow Him more closely, in our families and our churches.
Here are the posts for your further consideration and I welcome any comments below.
It is my understanding that second services are more cultural in nature than anything else. Calvin, I believe, preached three services a week. The very early church met daily – at least some of the members did. In the Greek and Jewish culture Sunday would be a regular work day – especially if you were a slave.
Personally, who cares if you attend church once a week or three times a week? We are not to forsake assembling – that is the key. The three times a week service is a prime example of how we let tradition dictate a certain level of spirituality.
well said
For folks like myself who have to drive almost a half hour to get to church, the Sunday evening option is pretty much out. It becomes more of a burdensome activity that takes away from my ability to actually get some rest on Sunday. I need that downtime, and driving another hour round trip just to attend a service robs me of the precious little time I have to regroup at the start of a new week. Interestingly enough, most of my non-churchgoing coworkers come to work Monday morning much more rested than me. Shouldn’t it be the opposite?!
Good point, Steve. This has ramifications to our witness too. Be as stressed out as me, when you find Jesus!
I read the Chappel article and felt the old guilt and manipulation feeling rising up that I hate so much! It was refreshing to stumble across your email soon after. It may work for them but my church is not to be compared to his. We have a rural church with people coming from as far as 1 1/2 hour drive away. We quit Sunday Evening services when people just didn’t show up. When we did our wed. eve service grew larger. The fellowship on Sunday Morning exploded and people appreciated not being guilted about the sunday evening service. We are lucky to get home by 2 pm due to the fellowship, talking, encouraging, counseling that goes on after the Sunday morning service. Families are getting together more in the evening and becoming closer. Even if we didn’t have the distance issue I would still NOT have an evening service and NOT feel the least bit guilty. Thanks for your internet ministry. You are very encouraging!
Thanks for the encouraging feedback.
More thoughts and also some fascinating discussion in the comments, can be founda t this post which is similar to mine: http://www.challies.com/articles/whatever-happened-to-evening-services
Dear Bob,
Thank you for this discussion and I appreciate your points.
If you would not mind, I would like to offer an alternative view of the evening worship service that may help and is clearly in contrast to any legalistic view which I agree would be incorrect.
The worship of the Almighty God is our command as Christians and it is to be a part of our Lord’s Day rest. It is certainly not easy, especially if travelling long distances or if you have young children (we have a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 3 month old and we live 20 miles away from the church). Nevertheless, the rest that is given to us on the Lord’s Day is primarily, though not exclusively Spiritual rest.
The spiritual rest comes from being in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and hearing Him speak to us through the Word of God, Sacraments, invocation, benediction, etc… and speaking to Him through prayer, hymns, etc… This worship is an utter privilege for the Christian. What a magnificent God we serve who allows us, no, even more, calls us, to come into His presence and worship Him.
In the worship of God, all the means of grace are present which nourish our souls. In the worship of God we are strengthened in our faith of which Christ Himself is both the author and the finisher. It is the closest taste of Heaven we will truly experience this side of eternity.
And so I am left with a question: Where else would it be better for the Christian to be than the corporate worship of Almighty God?
Than I ask the question of the church and the elders: If the means of grace are so vital to the building up of the believer, why wouldn’t the church in this day and age of easy travel and lighting hold at least two worship services (morning, afternoon, or night) so the congregation may be fed and the Lord exalted?
The building up of the family is essential. Family worship should be held at least daily. Fathers and mothers must rear up the children in the faith and not abandon them. But there is much time in the week for this and on the Lord’s Day. Why not show the importance to the family of the means of grace by attending worship in the evening, even when tired, to meat face to face with the Triune God of Scripture who was, who is, and who is to come…perhaps even this very night?
I appreciate the venue you have provided hear for discussion and I hope these are helpful and encouraging thoughts. I look forward to additional dialogue.
Respectfully submitted,
Ben
Ben,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Very good perspective. An extra service can be a blessing and time in church in corporate worship is indeed precious.
Family worship is important as well, agree with you there. I just think that often in churches that have two Sunday services, small group meetings and the mutual sharing in the word that non-pastors do in small groups together is deemphasized. While that is not formal worship, I believe the NT expects this to be normal in church life. “One another” ministry is important. If a second Sunday service is removed in favor of encouraging small group time, I think that can be a wise and good thing.
Thanks again for your participation.
Blessings in Christ,
Bob
My good friend who is a Presbyterian minister finally gave me an answer to a question I’ve had for a while, and it was how we managed to have Sunday Evening gospel services; when did they start? Most evangelical churches here in Northern Ireland stick rigidly to the morning communion service and evening gospel service, with the ever-present “invite someone along with you to hear the gospel!”
He told me it was in late Victorian times here that in any town or village, churches were the first to get electric light and people would come at night to see this new marvel, and so ministers thought “well, now they’re here… we may as well share the gospel with them!”
I googled the topic and found your site. Excellent blog!
Some churches here are so self-righteous about how many services they have that they look down on SMOs (Sunday-Morning-Only people) and our own pastor, in calling for a revival and shakeup in the church at the start of 2015, appeals for more than just the ‘same old, same old’ and the comfort zone, but he’s appealing to the SMOs, asking for Sunday evening, Monday evening prayer and Wednesday evening study. I remarked to my friend in the band “MY ‘same old, same old’ is Sunday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday!” and I fully believe one can be going to ALL the meetings, ALL week, EVERYWHERE, and still not be moving any further with your walk with God.
So for me, it’s not the ‘extra services’ – it’s the content and how much it affects you. If you’re not affected by it, you may as well sit at home and watch the TV. Personally, I’m bored stiff by the gospel services and only go through my duty in the worship band (my wife doesn’t go in the evening anymore). Most of the worship is songs I am sick and tired of! We are all human, at the end of the day, but I honestly feel I could never invite anyone to a service I myself find boring.
We don’t need to just ‘maintain’ the evening service, we need to make it attractive to non-believers. And I don’t think saying “we now have fluorescent lights!” will work.
Grace be with you.
Thanks, Tim. Appreciated your comment.
Blessings,
Bob
For the last six months I’ve been working third shift so I’ve come to appreciate an evening service more and more. Some churches offer the same service but at different times.