Why Church is Unlike Any Other Gathering (we don't need to compare Divine Service with secular events)

In our world of constant comparisons, we are tempted to utilize other activities to try to "motivate" people to go to Church: "Why does one hour at church seem so long when three hours at the football stadium flies by? Why do people gladly brave the cold, rain, or snow for concerts and sports events, but suddenly have a dozen excuses when it comes to Sunday worship?"

These comparisons, though well-intentioned, miss the point. Church is not just another option among the weekend distractions and leisure activities competing for our time. When we compare Divine Service to secular events, we are making it more difficult to understand what church actually is. Some superficial connections can be drawn, for sure - every gathering has its rituals like singing anthems at games, standing ovations at concerts, actions, "Liturgies" that are the framework of those events. Yet they are fleeting and most of the time self-focused. The Church operates on an entirely different principle. It has very little in common with concerts, games, or any other gathering—whether in content, purpose, shape, or even in "cost-benefit" or what we "get out of it."

So instead of asking, "Why do I have to go to church?" or comparing it to brunch or football, the better question for Christians becomes: "What makes church fundamentally different from everything else?"

The Church as a Gathering of Baptized Believers

From its earliest days, the church has been a unique community. When Acts describes the first Christians, it shows believers gathering daily for prayer, teaching, communion, and fellowship (Acts 2:42-46). They weren't choosing church over other entertainment options—they were actively engaged in a community rooted in God's promises. The church today is still this same community of baptized believers who gather together to receive God's grace through His Word and Sacraments. We are bound not by shared interests or entertainment preferences, but by a shared identity: brothers and sisters united in Christ.

In an age that prizes individual choice and experience, the church stands as something entirely different—a community where we worship together, serve one another, and support each other in faith. It's a public witness that our faith is not a consumer product but belongs to the whole people of God.

The Unique Gifts of Word and Sacrament

The Divine Service is not centred on what we bring or what entertains us, but on what we receive. Every Sunday, God offers us something truly unique that no stadium, concert hall, or brunch spot could ever provide: His Word, forgiveness, and grace. We encounter God Himself in the Scriptures and the Sacraments, receiving gifts that refresh, heal, and strengthen us.

Consider Holy Communion. Here, Christ doesn't simply offer a symbolic reminder or an inspiring experience—He gives us His true body and blood, given and shed for the forgiveness of sins. This is no ordinary moment; it is a real encounter with Christ, who meets us in bread and wine, bringing the same grace He shared with His disciples. Through the preaching of the Word, we hear God's Law, which reveals our need for His forgiveness, and His Gospel, which assures us that this forgiveness is ours through Jesus. We are restored, renewed, and reoriented toward Him—a gift no other gathering, no matter how exciting or well-produced, could ever replicate.

Rooted in God's Command and Our Desire to Worship

The Third Commandment, "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy," calls us to set aside time for worship—not because God needs our attendance, but because we need what He gives us there. This isn't about comparing our emotional responses to church versus concerts. Our worship is a response to God's love, rooted in our gratitude for His grace. The Psalms, especially Psalm 122, reflect this joy: "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord!'"

Worship is not competing with items on our entertainment calendar; it's a life-giving encounter with our Creator, where we receive His gifts and thank Him for His grace. Like Jesus, who regularly worshipped in the synagogue (Luke 4:16), and like the apostles and early believers who continued in prayer and fellowship, we gather not because it's more fun than football, but because this is where Christ meets us with His gifts.

A Weekly Anchor in a Changing World

Many events we attend—concerts, games, festivals—are seasonal, or even a one off. They come and go. Church is not an event. It gathers every week, all year round. It's not a seasonal entertainment option; it's a constant, steadfast presence that anchors us amidst the uncertainties of life.

When we gather weekly, we establish a rhythm that grounds our lives in God's promises. In Hebrews 10:25, we are encouraged "not [to neglect] meeting together, as is the habit of some, but [to encourage] one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." This regular gathering isn't competing with our weekend plans; it's a habit of grace that refocuses our hearts and minds on what truly matters, giving us hope and peace that no entertainment could provide.

Church as a Public Witness

Our weekly presence in worship is more than a personal choice among lifestyle options; it's a public declaration of our faith. Every Sunday, we bear witness to a watching world that God is worthy of our time and devotion—not because church is more entertaining than sports, but because our ultimate allegiance is to God, not to fleeting pleasures or self-satisfying pursuits. Worship becomes a counter-cultural act of faith that points to the One who gives meaning to our lives.

Conclusion

The question isn't whether church can compete with concerts or outperform football games in entertainment value. Church isn't in that category at all. Where else are we invited to gather as the baptized community, to receive God's Word, to participate in Christ's real presence through the Sacraments, and to publicly witness our faith? Church is not another weekly event competing for our attention—it's a sacred encounter, a gift from God Himself, and an essential anchor for our lives.

When we stop comparing Divine Service to secular entertainment, we see it for what it truly is: a place where God meets us, renews us, and sends us out with hope and purpose. In a world where so much is fleeting and superficial, church is a taste of eternity and an anchor for the soul.

An incomparable weekly gift for the gathered believers.