Is it a sin for protestants to skip church on Sundays and why do they feel it is okay.

[BettyM]

I know there was a similar thread as this but I would like to ask this from a different perspective. I have several protestant friends and frequently they just skip church like it is no big deal or it is fun or it’s a right because of how hard they have worked and now they need the rest on Sundays or maybe they might miss a sporting event. These are not kids, they are in their 40’s. There are several different people who have said things like to me. One protestant acquaintance stated they do not go to church on Sundays but go on Wednesdays instead. They like sleeping in on Sundays.

Do protestants churches consider missing Sunday “services” wrong or a sin for their members or is it okay for them to skip. I am not talking about serious reasons for missing, like an illness. I mean just because they do not feel like going. If it is considered a sin should they maybe be encourage to attend. I usually don’t know how to respond when they tell me, "well, I’m not going to church Sunday, because…
I just kind of, probably look dumbfounded, why they would just miss on purpose.

 

[Augusta_Sans]

I was raised Lutheran. It was not considered a sin to miss a Sunday service. I don’t recall my family thinking it was “fun” to miss church, or that we had a “right” to skip because of “how hard we had worked.” If you are quoting your Protestant friends accurately, please pray for them.

Attending church was encouraged, but it was not sinful to miss it. An analogy I would use for a cradle Catholic is that in the Catholic church it’s not sinful to fail to tithe, but giving to charity/church is encouraged.

 

[SSTeacher]

I know there was a similar thread as this but I would like to ask this from a different perspective. I have several protestant friends and frequently they just skip church like it is no big deal or it is fun or it’s a right because of how hard they have worked and now they need the rest on Sundays or maybe they might miss a sporting event. These are not kids, they are in their 40’s. There are several different people who have said things like to me. One protestant acquaintance stated they do not go to church on Sundays but go on Wednesdays instead. They like sleeping in on Sundays.

Do protestants churches consider missing Sunday “services” wrong or a sin for their members or is it okay for them to skip. I am not talking about serious reasons for missing, like an illness. I mean just because they do not feel like going. If it is considered a sin should they maybe be encourage to attend. I usually don’t know how to respond when they tell me, "well, I’m not going to church Sunday, because…
I just kind of, probably look dumbfounded, why they would just miss on purpose.

I’m a former Evangelical Christian and the attitude you have described sounds familiar. I think in Evangelical circles such an attitude would probably be regarded as in no way unusual. I doubt that any Evangelical would suggest in the case of another that it was a sin to miss church on Sunday in a specific instance since that might be seen as passing judging upon the action of another Christian. So if an Evangelical Christian misses church on Sunday – for whatever reason – that would doubtless be seen by other Evangelicals (including the pastor of the church) as a matter between that person and God.

Does that make sense?

Cordially,
Mick

 

[BettyM]

I’m a former Evangelical Christian and the attitude you have described sounds familiar. I think in Evangelical circles such an attitude would probably be regarded as in no way unusual. I doubt that any Evangelical would suggest in the case of another that it was a sin to miss church on Sunday in a specific instance since that might be seen as passing judging upon the action of another Christian. So if an Evangelical Christian misses church on Sunday – for whatever reason – that would doubtless be seen by other Evangelicals (including the pastor of the church) as a matter between that person and God.

Does that make sense?

Cordially,
Mick

Thank you. That does make sense and I didn’t think to say but a couple of the families that say this are Evangelical. The other family is Methodist.

 

[Keegan524]

I grew up in a conservative church of Christ congregation. In the churches of Christ, attendance is very much expected. Not attending is considered “forsaking the assembly” and it can technically be grounds for a withdrawal of fellowship (being kicked out of the church). I’ve never had the experience of seeing someone disfellowshipped because of missing a church service, but when the congregation withdraws fellowship from someone, that is often cited as one (big) reason.

 

[KathleenGee]

Reading the posts here show that the Protestants have integrity of faith. We have a vigil Mass for those who work on Sunday, and I have liked going to it. My work hours change. So I will go to catch up on needed sleep the next morning on Sunday. I can always go to a Sunday ‘contemplative Mass’ that is all in candlelight. They have one at 7:30 pm and another at 8:30 pm.

 

[Publisher]

Most Protestant traditions do not have a…well for lack of a better term…“list of sins and do’s and don’ts” that the Catholic church appears to have. Paul stated “not to forsake the assembling of youselves together as some do…” Missing worship is not encouraged…but it is not a sin as Catholics believe it is.

On any given First Day there are those whom I know will be at Meeting…and there are those whom I suspect will be at Meeting…and then there are those whom I am pleasantly surprised to see at Meeting.

Some do attend other faith traditions perhaps several weeks out of the month…

We have a gay couple with children who attend the local MCC most of the time…from time to time they attend Friend’s Meeting instead as one of the men was raised a Friend. We have a couple that attend a Methodist church and from time to time drop in on First Day Meeting to keep in touch.

Since most Protestant groups do not see their repsective group as a “different church” but only as a different tradition…some who miss First Day Meeting are attending other worship service traditions…some even attend more liturgical traditions but come back to the Silence when they have need.

 

[greenmoira]

The Catholic Church interprets the 3rd Commandment to “keep holy the Lord’s Day” as an obligation on its members to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days. Non-Catholics may not be obligated to this interpretation. However, if a person adheres to the Ten Commandments they must fulfill that commandment regardless of their denomination. This is God’s Commandment!

 

[Publisher]

The Catholic Church interprets the 3rd Commandment to “keep holy the Lord’s Day” as an obligation on its members to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days. Non-Catholics may not be obligated to this interpretation. However, if a person adheres to the Ten Commandments they must fulfill that commandment regardless of their denomination. This is God’s Commandment!

For Friends, every day is holy…Christ is now our Sabbath Rest and invites all to Him who are “weary and heavy laden” for His “yoke is mild and his burden light”. I have skipped First Day meeting for various reasons…and held “Meeting” at home.

One thing I find curious, many who feel it is necessary to attend worship services lest they “sin” tend to not adhere to the other prohibitions of buying and selling and frequently “church goers” patronize restaurants and do their weekly shopping on Sunday…or watch TV or go to the movies and not reserve the “holy day” for “holy things” alone.

 

[4Squarebaby]

The Catholic Church interprets the 3rd Commandment to “keep holy the Lord’s Day” as an obligation on its members to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days. Non-Catholics may not be obligated to this interpretation. However, if a person adheres to the Ten Commandments they must fulfill that commandment regardless of their denomination. This is God’s Commandment!

But of course those Protestants who hold that position with the most passion will challenge you with the day of the Sabbath that they believe we have not been released from no matter what any specific Council decided.

My opinion? Read what Publiser wrote, he writes much better then I do.

 

[SSTeacher]

The Catholic Church interprets the 3rd Commandment to “keep holy the Lord’s Day” as an obligation on its members to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days. Non-Catholics may not be obligated to this interpretation. However, if a person adheres to the Ten Commandments they must fulfill that commandment regardless of their denomination. This is God’s Commandment!

Am I right in stating the Catholic Church teaches that if a Catholic ignores this obligation of having to go to Mass on a Sunday and stays at home for what the Catholic Church might well define as “no good reason” that he or she would consequently be in a state of mortal sin after midnight on Sunday and would go straight to hell if he or she were to die in that state?

Curiously,
Mick

 

[crazzeto]

Am I right in stating the Catholic Church teaches that if a Catholic ignores this obligation of having to go to Mass on a Sunday and stays at home for what the Catholic Church might well define as “no good reason” that he or she would consequently be in a state of mortal sin after midnight on Sunday and would go straight to hell if he or she were to die in that state?

Curiously,
Mick

A good Catholic understands that we can not possibly know who perciesly goes to hell (or heaven) in the average case. Only God is the perfect Judge of heart, occationally he throws us a bone in the form of a Saint (or a clear scriptual reference of someone who is almost certainly in hell) but outside of that, we can’t really say for sure.

What I can say is that an individual does this with a rebellious heart they’ve increased the chances they’re going to h-e-double hockey sticks almost as singificantly as one can. If someone does so with an attitude of ambivilence, then well they’re certainly not helping their cause for sainthood, though at least you’re not quite as bad off as that rebellious individual.

Obviously if you missed Church for some excusable reason, then you’re probably not going to go to Hell over that anyway.

 

[Loboto-Me]

They are in danger of hell, you know as well as we do that Catholics don’t claim to know who goes to hell or not. Trick question?

 

[SSTeacher]

Am I right in stating the Catholic Church teaches that if a Catholic ignores this obligation of having to go to Mass on a Sunday and stays at home for what the Catholic Church might well define as “no good reason” that he or she would consequently be in a state of mortal sin after midnight on Sunday and would go straight to hell if he or she were to die in that state?

Curiously,
Mick

They are in danger of hell, you know as well as we do that Catholics don’t claim to know who goes to hell or not. Trick question?

By no means was it intended to be a trick question. I asked if my understanding of Catholic teaching was right not whether my knowledge of what individual Catholics might believe or claim was correct. What individual Catholics might believe or claim is, as I’ve discovered, not necessarily the same thing as what the Catholic Church teaches.

My question is related to the Original Post. My thought is the reality may possibly be that many Catholics go to Mass on Sunday only because they are obligated to do so. Indeed, if the Catholic Church has made breaking that particular commandment a mortal sin with all that such entails then it seems not unreasonable to suppose that some Catholics may go to Mass on Sunday motivated only by fear of going to hell. So if all Catholics were to be released from that particular obligation it seems not unlikely that there would necessarily be fewer Masses on Sundays in every Catholic parish throughout the world and that the attitude outside Catholicism, which the Original Poster currently finds dumbfounding, would quickly become the norm inside Catholicism.

Speculatively,
Mick

 

[Loboto-Me]

You’re right, I did make it sound like it was an individual belief. I should correctly say that the Catholic Church does not make any assumptions as to who is in hell and who isn’t. Since I’m such an integral member of the Church I automatically presumed all Catholics think as I try to. (I still have problems with it with certain members of other religious groups but submit to the teaching anyway with prayer)

As for motivation by fear, sometimes that’s what it takes people to adhere until they’ve developed enough spiritual maturity to start being motivated by love.

Personal Story: For many years “fear of hell” motivated me to do the right thing (growing up years). Through doing the right thing, even if I feared separation from God, it eventually turned into a love for Him. Sometimes loving actions start out for selfish reasons (fear of punishment?) and then turn out to become selfless through maturity … where I am now.

 

[BettyM]

By no means was it intended to be a trick question. I asked if my understanding of Catholic teaching was right not whether my knowledge of what individual Catholics might believe or claim was correct. What individual Catholics might believe or claim is, as I’ve discovered, not necessarily the same thing as what the Catholic Church teaches.

 

[RosaryCrusader]

Christ said “Do this in memory of Me” and Catholics have been doing it ever since. The “this” is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as found in the Catholic Church and is the ONLY worship which is pleasing to God since it’s an offering of His Son to Himself. All other so called protestant “worship” is an abomination to God as it’s a fake imitation of the one worship that He commanded. God did not command that we eat crackers and drink grape juice - He commanded that we eat the Body of Blood of Jesus Christ. As Catholics we worship the way God revealed and not the way we decide to do it.

This being said it’s not a sin that protestants skip their prayer service on Sunday since Christ did not ask for that.

 

[SSTeacher]

By no means was it intended to be a trick question. I asked if my understanding of Catholic teaching was right not whether my knowledge of what individual Catholics might believe or claim was correct. What individual Catholics might believe or claim is, as I’ve discovered, not necessarily the same thing as what the Catholic Church teaches.

My question is related to the Original Post. My thought is the reality may possibly be that many Catholics go to Mass on Sunday only because they are obligated to do so. Indeed, if the Catholic Church has made breaking that particular commandment a mortal sin with all that such entails then it seems not unreasonable to suppose that some Catholics may go to Mass on Sunday motivated only by fear of going to hell. So if all Catholics were to be released from that particular obligation it seems not unlikely that there would necessarily be fewer Masses on Sundays in every Catholic parish throughout the world and that the attitude outside Catholicism, which the Original Poster currently finds dumbfounding, would quickly become the norm inside Catholicism.

Speculatively,
Mick

You’re right, I did make it sound like it was an individual belief. I should correctly say that the Catholic Church does not make any assumptions as to who is in hell and who isn’t.

Right. But that’s not the impression one gets from every Catholic – particularly Catholics that find their way into the Evangelical world.

Since I’m such an integral member of the Church I automatically presumed all Catholics think as I try to. (I still have problems with it with certain members of other religious groups but submit to the teaching anyway with prayer)

It’s very honest of you to declare that.

As for motivation by fear, sometimes that’s what it takes people to adhere until they’ve developed enough spiritual maturity to start being motivated by love.

That’s certainly how we bring up our children (assuming we’re interested in their formation ) but when this idea is brought into the realm of religion the danger is that the fear will be made the main focus and always remain so. I’ve stood in the presence of an Evangelical who was literally gloating over the notion that sermons could engender fear into people that didn’t believe exactly as he did. Most disquieting. And he is not alone. The pastime occasionally favored by Christians of this genre is to relate (with embellishments, hand gestures and mimicry) the effect of the sermon given by Jonathan Edwards in 1741, which is titled, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

Personal Story: For many years “fear of hell” motivated me to do the right thing (growing up years). Through doing the right thing, even if I feared separation from God, it eventually turned into a love for Him. Sometimes loving actions start out for selfish reasons (fear of punishment?) and then turn out to become selfless through maturity … where I am now.

Thanks for sharing that. You’ve reminded me of the words sometimes attributed to Saint Anthony of Egypt: I no longer fear God, but I love Him.

Appreciatively,
Mick

 

[Renko]

In my opinion it is a sin, the 4th commandment- Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
Do the protestants not believe in the Ten Commandments? I rest my case.

 

[TriuneUnity]

In my opinion it is a sin, the 4th commandment- Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
Do the protestants not believe in the Ten Commandments? I rest my case.

Sunday was adopted by the early Christians as a day of worship. Sunday was emphatically the weekly feast of the resurrection of Christ. It developed, over time, to be referred to as the Lord’s day, and upon it the primitive church assembled to break bread (the Eucharist). No regulations for its observance were laid down in the New Testament, nor indeed, is its observance even enjoined. Yet Christian feeling led to the universal adoption of the day, in imitation of apostolic precedence. In the second century its observance was universal.

So, is it a sin to miss church on Sunday? No. Is it a sin to abstain from assembling with believers for Christian worship (on any day, regardless if the church happens to want to worship on Wednesday)? Yes.