Church was canceled today due to icy roads. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I do not want anyone to get injured trying to get to church. On the other hand, people brave the weather to make it to work. Is church optional where work is necessary? Which is more important? Is it a bad thing to cancel church?
School is often canceled when weather poses a risk. Kids eagerly watch for school to close at the first sign of snow. When it is closed, they often put on their snow clothes and play out in the snow. They look for an excuse to miss school in order to do something else.
We could have had church and left the decision to travel up to the individual. The problem is that there are those who are so committed they will put themselves at risk in order to come to church. Others would go because they do not want to look unspiritual, but are looking for an excuse not to go to church and to save face at the same time. The one loves to be in the house of worship. The other really does not want to go to church in the first place. Either way, the issue of safety remains.
Though the motive to cancel may be safety, the way it is received is mixed. Like the kids at school, some people are glad church is canceled and watch hopefully for snow. Others would go no matter how bad it gets and are disappointed when church is canceled. In the end, we can make the call for safety, but we can't control how it is received. Hopefully people are disappointed when church is canceled and eagerly await the next worship service (Hebrews 10:25).
