Believe it or not, fifty or more years ago it wasn't considered rude. In fact, after we finished our evening meal, all of us sitting at the same table discussing our day (another rare thing these days), we quickly cleaned things up "just in case." As my sister and I played in our room and as our parents read the paper or watched the evening news, we all kept one ear for an engine, car doors slamming, and footsteps on the front stoop. At least one night a week, often more, we were rewarded with friends or family dropping by for an unannounced visit.
At least one night every other week we were the friends or family who made that visit. Often it was a visit with cousins who lived in another school district or were in different grades. Or maybe it was an elderly family member, great-aunts and uncles we only saw a few times a year. Even more often we visited church members, and they in turn visited us. We shored up our faith with the fellowship of good conversation and laughter, and usually a healthy dose of Biblical discussion. Even when there were no children our age, I enjoyed sitting quietly in the corner, listening. I doubt we ever spent a week without seeing another Christian sometime or other.
All of that has gone the way of the manual typewriter and cassette tape recorder. It is old-fashioned, "unfeasible," and yes, even rude. I understand the change in a culture and the times we live in. What I do not understand is Christians who no longer make it a point to be together any time except Sunday morning in a building where the after-services conversation is anything but deep because we all have to get somewhere else as soon as possible.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47). One of the reasons the first church grew was that they made it a priority to be together as often as possible—"day by day." One of the prime benefits of going to a one service Sunday that I have seen is those groups who then schedule regular times of special study, group meetings, or simple socializing. Others use the time to visit shut-ins and the elderly, many taking their children along so they can learn how to serve this way as well. Trust me, there are still old-timers who remember people "dropping by," who would not mind if you did so, though the first time might be a shock after the lack of such things in our culture lately.
And maybe we should get used to the idea again. After all, one of these days, the Lord is going to "just drop by." Make sure you are prepared for it.
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness (1Thess 5:1-5).
Dene Ward
At least one night every other week we were the friends or family who made that visit. Often it was a visit with cousins who lived in another school district or were in different grades. Or maybe it was an elderly family member, great-aunts and uncles we only saw a few times a year. Even more often we visited church members, and they in turn visited us. We shored up our faith with the fellowship of good conversation and laughter, and usually a healthy dose of Biblical discussion. Even when there were no children our age, I enjoyed sitting quietly in the corner, listening. I doubt we ever spent a week without seeing another Christian sometime or other.
All of that has gone the way of the manual typewriter and cassette tape recorder. It is old-fashioned, "unfeasible," and yes, even rude. I understand the change in a culture and the times we live in. What I do not understand is Christians who no longer make it a point to be together any time except Sunday morning in a building where the after-services conversation is anything but deep because we all have to get somewhere else as soon as possible.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:46-47). One of the reasons the first church grew was that they made it a priority to be together as often as possible—"day by day." One of the prime benefits of going to a one service Sunday that I have seen is those groups who then schedule regular times of special study, group meetings, or simple socializing. Others use the time to visit shut-ins and the elderly, many taking their children along so they can learn how to serve this way as well. Trust me, there are still old-timers who remember people "dropping by," who would not mind if you did so, though the first time might be a shock after the lack of such things in our culture lately.
And maybe we should get used to the idea again. After all, one of these days, the Lord is going to "just drop by." Make sure you are prepared for it.
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness (1Thess 5:1-5).
Dene Ward
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