If, as a pastor, I blame the absentees for their failures (to show up, to worship, to pray, to give, etc), I can get by with it since they’re not present to defend themselves and will not take this personally.
If I blame others for the low attendance, pitiful offerings, etc., it may look like the problem has nothing to do with my poor leadership or lousy preaching or our weak programs.
The preacher who is blaming the missing members for their shallowness is probably missing the point.
Ball games and golf and television shows and comedians are all about entertainment, excitement, recreation and diversions. They present a game which is basically meaningless (that is, nothing that takes place on the field has anything to do with real life) in order to entertain us.
Such games have as much in common with a Spirit-anointed worship service as a game of hopscotch does with the Korean war.
Comparing the two is foolish.
Using our attendance at the first to shame us in our lack of support for the second is an insult to people’s intelligence.
A Saturday football game can be a great deal of fun.
It works on a hundred levels—the game itself, the fun of a daylong outing with family and friends, the sights and sounds (cheers, bands, crowd noise), the visit to one’s alma mater, a relaxing drive, and such. Unless one overdoes it, this can be as healthy as a minivacation.
For most people, Saturday football games are sheer entertainment, are rare and are a diversion from the day-to-day routine. For a couple of hours, we can holler and complain and laugh and slap-hands and hug friends without it costing anything expensive, meaning anything important, or committing us to anything permanent.
Church is different.
