5 Cardinal Sins
By Curtis on Sep 19, 2008 in Motivational
I got up early that morning, excited to know that I would soon get the opportunity to visit a new Sabbath school. I was out of town for the weekend and decided I would visit the main church of this anonymous city.
I arrived early before Sabbath school started and waited until a few more cars arrived before I entered the church. The church was attractive and I looked forward to a learning experience during Sabbath school.
Shortly after the appointed time for Sabbath school to begin, the superintendent arrived to start the program. He looked hurried and perhaps he had an emergency that prevented him from being there before the service start time.
After the superintendents’ remarks and song service ended I counted approximately 12 people there. The superintendent welcomed back a missing member who had been away due to illness. She received a warm amen from the audience.
Strangely though to me, I, as a visitor, was never acknowledged. Although there were only a dozen of us there, there was no welcome extended to the visitor(s). Cardinal Sin #1
Next came the division of classes for lesson study. There was no direction from the front geared to a visitor explaining what was about to happen. Everyone simply got up and went to their classes. I stayed seated, not knowing if there would be a class in my section or not. Cardinal Sin #2
Thankfully a teacher arrived who covered this section of the church. He greeted me and the one other class member there at the beginning of the lesson. Although I sat directly in front of him, after his initial greeting, the teacher never once looked at me again. He directed all of his comments and discussion to his regular members. Cardinal Sin #3
After the lesson study ended and the transition began to divine service, no one from the Sabbath school department inquired who I was. It’s as if I was invisible. Cardinal Sin #4
After sitting there for a few minutes I decided that maybe I had made a mistake in choosing this particular church to worship at. If this was the tone set by the church, I didn’t want to stay for the 11:00 service. I made my way out of the church and to my car without any interaction from the members of that church. Cardinal Sin #5
I told myself 2 things:
1) I would never visit this church again.
2) I needed to make sure that these obvious signs of a Sabbath school department without a goal for growth would not be things my home church was guilty of.
Whether large or small, every Sabbath school department should plan for growth and anticipate the presence of visitors. We have to make a conscious effort to look at what we do from the perspective of someone who has never been to one of our services before. Simple Christian courtesy would go a long way towards remedying many of these issues.
The whole circle of our obligation to one another is covered by that word of Christ’s, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Matthew 7:12. Education 136
7 Comment(s)
By Perry Jennings on Sep 24, 2008 | Reply
Thank you for sharing. I too attended a church and experienced a similar experience. It was very strange to leave church and be unnoticed by anyone, even the pastor. I don’t have a desire to attend that church again either. I attended a church recently, well, last year and a young man as teaching. He is very frendly and seems deeply concerned about my welfare. I have decided to become a member of his church because of him. Do you know who he is? He looks a lot like you and in fact, speaks just like you. You will never know how blessed my wife and I are to be members of his Sabbath School. We hunger to get to church each Sabbath. I am grateful to God for him because God has sent him to us. When you look into the mirror at him tell him that we love him and deeply appreciate him.
By Ron Sullivan on Sep 25, 2008 | Reply
Curtis,
As usual, your blogs are delightfully insightful and right on the money! Thanks for sharing.
By D. Alvarado on Sep 29, 2008 | Reply
First I’d like to say, I am sorry to hear about your terrible experience when you visited on of our other churches. Just think of the souls that don’t come back ever. Because of what you experienced, I’m trying to make an effort to go out of my way to not only greet them but invite them to Sabbath dinner. We used to do things like that years ago. Times have changed and so have we.
Your materials are great and they are on their way to other churches. We need help!!!!!!!!
By Melodie on Sep 29, 2008 | Reply
That story suggests that we should be intentional about our behavior towards others, whether we know them personally or not. I will try to do that.
By Lori on Sep 29, 2008 | Reply
This blog describes the current condition of the Sabbath School class at the church I attend. I have found that I do not often attend because the times that I have, the lesson was not applied to everyday life. The discussion was boring and did not engage in what I believe is a fundamental key to a vibrant Sabbath School class.
By Nell on Sep 30, 2008 | Reply
This is a very sad story. Unfortunately, I have recently experienced this while visiting SDA churches in this (Atlanta) area. I’ve had to remind myself that I’m there to learn more about Jesus Christ and to smile and be friendly no matter what anyone else around me is or is not doing!
At a mega church I was employed at, there were mandatory classes for staff and new members on how to fellowship and interact (that is one secret to growing a mega church); maybe this is something that can be of benefit to our Sabbath Schools and churches because the problem is more widespread than you may think.
By Rochelle on Oct 1, 2008 | Reply
In my travels over the years, I too experienced not only the same (lost in the sauce even if it was a small pot) but also the opposite.
So when I joined the Host and Hostess committee at my church, I made a committment that when I was on duty I would try and greet all who come through my door (the front one) be they guest or member.
There are times when even our members get overlooked because they are not part of a “group/click. Sabbath can be a very lonely time when your all alone even in a crowd. You would be surprised at how much a warm smile, a handshake or even a hug will do. Try it you just might like it!