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No time

Peter J. Funk

At the turn of the millennium, we again have faced the elusive element of time, which can neither be bought nor sold, only used or wasted.

Throughout the explosion of modern technology, we have been told that, because of automation and computerization, we would save countless hours. If this is true, why do we hear over and over again the phrase, “I just haven’t got the time”? This is not only true in the workaday world; it is also true in the church. When asked to serve in the church, the most common reason for not serving is the lack of time – unless of course the church will pay the person for the time.

It seems that the church has accepted at least one concept of our business society: to downsize our church services so that we can have more time. For what? Hebrews 10:25 reminds us that when we see the end of the world approaching, we should be gathering together as believers more often. Instead, we have dropped the Sunday evening service. We use any excuse to cut back on Sunday school during the year, and delete it completely in summer. Even the Sunday school classes that are held are poorly attended, and it becomes a monumental task to find sufficient Sunday school teachers. Church boards are hard pressed to find members willing to fill voluntary positions.

It has not always been like this. Is it really a lack of time, or is it a shift of priorities? We still find time to do the things we want to do – play golf, fish, go to movies or games, watch videos and go on holidays. Have we conformed to the world to such an extent that we have lost our sense of biblical priorities? (Malachi 3:16). The church should set the standard for the world, not vice versa.

Peter J. Funk is a member of East Aldergrove MB Church in Aldergrove, B.C.

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Last modified May 4, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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