Tonight we will not be having an evening service. That may not be a surprising statement to you because 1) you don’t go to church; 2) your church normally does not have an evening service; or 3) you normally cancel when weather is questionable.
This is not normally the case for Liberty.
We have canceled a Sunday service only one time in the past 4 1/2 years because of weather.


Is it right to cancel a service?

Here are a few reasons why it is appropriate to cancel a service due to inclement weather:
1. We do not attend services in order to win an award for the most consecutive services attended. If that is your motivation I pity you. You know that you can’t take your ribbon to heaven, right?

2. Services in themselves are not sacred. We gather to worship, we don’t worship the gathering. We may not think of it that way. If a church decides to cancel a service, or stop Sunday evening services except for every second Sunday on months containing full moons and significant Irish holidays, it does not mean that are necessarily heathen.

3. Canceling a service can be a way the shepherd cares for the flock. Shepherds don’t have to make every decision for those under their care, but we must be sure not to provoke them to sin.
If a pastor has consistently taught and modeled the idea that disciples of Jesus Christ must make it a priority to gather and worship with the body, they should be compelled to be consistent. There is a moral weight here. We must not forget that some of our congregation, in attempting to be consistent, will put themselves in unnecessary danger.

For these reasons I am thankful that we have wise leaders who choose to care for the flock rather than win a ribbon (even if it is one of those big long ones!).

What reasons might you add?