I recently heard a minister say people feared attending Church during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they went to Walmart for groceries and other items. I’m sure some wore masks, and others did not.
I thought to myself, people did what seemed natural and expedient while taking the least risk of contracting the virus. I am sure churchgoers also went to other places deemed essential for their health and well-being.
Are people still talking about pre- and post-pandemic church attendance?
Why not?
Is not going to church a part of our health and well-being?
Church attendance is still below pre-pandemic attendance numbers. And for many, virtual services are the choice of worship. Remote broadcast worship involving television, radio, and the internet is available and convenient.
There is no real proof that the pandemic is the culprit for the current decline in church, temple, mosque, or synagogue attendance. However, people have more options in the type of worship and opt to use them.
Maybe church attendance is down due to other trends, including how people view their time and the use of it.
A particular study, The American Time Use Survey (ATUS), analyzes daily activities journaled over 24 hours. Thousands of Americans 15 years and older participated in the survey and provided detailed accounts.
The American Time Use Survey divides 24-hour activities into leisure or non-leisure time involvement.
According to this study, non-leisure time includes sleeping, family time, working, school, cooking, caregiving, and self-care. Self-care includes feeding our face, hygiene, sleeping, and such.
I have no problem with this time grouping. These are essential life-sustaining and support functions. I agree that sleeping and eating are non-leisure activities. Without sleep, I’m worthless, and without food, I’m worse.
The survey lists the following as leisure time: socializing, watching TV, internet browsing, attending recreational and sports activities, volunteering, praying, church worship, relaxing, and resting.
Wait a moment!
Something looks out of place. Prayer and worship are leisure time? The definition of leisure time includes spare or free time.
These two essentials, prayer and worship, aren’t leisure time, not in my life! Anything dutiful or obligatory isn’t leisure.
As a child, my leisure time was choreless or playtime: playing hopscotch, hide-and-seek, and other games. But missing church or neglecting my prayers wasn’t an option or a part of my leisure time.
Church time wasn’t playtime, and playtime wasn’t church time.
As an adult, church, and prayer are even more critical and revered.
Like 96% of the people surveyed, I watch TV, surf the internet, and socialize with friends during my leisure time. I also relax and rest. But what if there’s no time left after non-leisure doings?
Not having time to pray or worship God is not having time to care for oneself spiritually.
Quality of life begins with prayer and worship. Gratitude for the food is very important.
Suppose one does not have an appetite to eat. One can consume the Word when the body is unable to intake food. Worship is as important as food.
Luke 4:4 says. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.”
And prayer is always in order. There’s a thankful prayer for a new day. There’s a grateful prayer before a meal. And there’s a guardian prayer at bedtime. And one may sprinkle more prayers in between these.
Praying and worshipping are a part of self-care.
And we pray because we’re unable to keep or take care of ourselves. God keeps us all.
Worship is not a leftover slice of the time pie. Neither is prayer. Both are a “must-do.”
Non-leisure time includes church and prayer.
I hope you are happy and well.