When people skip church to prepare for the thing they invited you, the pastor, to.
@FailingPastor
Quick story:
Several months ago I was invited by some guys in church to go golfing on a Sunday afternoon. It seemed like fun and we’d done it before. “Sure, let’s do it,” I gladly replied.
Sunday morning came and the guy who invited me did not show up to church.
“I wasn’t at church today because my wife needs her car tomorrow, so I had to fix some things on it, and she was busy planting flowers. You know, this nice weather isn’t going to hold up.”
We then went golfing and out to eat for the next FIVE HOURS.
That’s right, he skipped church because he didn’t have time to fix the car and plant flowers. He did, however, have time to go golfing and out to eat for FIVE HOURS.
This sort of thing makes me regret ever doing anything with anyone, especially on Sundays.
This is not the only example of such a thing. I’ve been invited to supper, picnics, graduation parties, and reunions by people who will skip church to get ready for the thing I said I’d attend.
Seeing people’s priorities in action is devastating to a pastor’s self-esteem. Luckily for me, I have little self-esteem left.
And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
–Luke 14:22-24
Failing Pastor 