Summer Sabbath - Week 5

Should We Visit Another Church While We’re on Vacation?
The short answer to that question is an enthusiastic yes. Gathering for worship is part of our identity as followers of Christ. It’s part of who we are. We don’t gather simply because it’s convenient or because it’s our weekly routine. We gather because Christ is worthy of our worship. Our location may change, but our commitment to gather with God’s people on the Lord’s Day shouldn’t. 

In fact, I believe one of the healthiest habits we can develop as Christian families is to make worship a priority no matter where we happen to be. When we intentionally seek out a faithful church while we’re traveling, we’re reminding ourselves, and teaching our children, that worship isn’t something we do only when we’re home. It’s a joyful privilege and a defining characteristic of those who belong to Christ.

One of the great benefits of visiting another church while away from our own is that it reminds us that the body of Christ is much larger than our local congregation. It’s encouraging to worship alongside believers in another city, or even another country, and be reminded that God is faithfully building His church throughout the world.

I experienced this firsthand several years ago. During an extended layover in Frankfurt, Germany, I left the airport on a Sunday morning to find a church in the nearby town of Mainz-Kastel. As I walked through town, I came across a church with a sign that read, Evangelische Kirche. I wasn’t entirely sure what kind of church it was, but I recognized the word Evangelical and decided to go in.

Everything about the service was unfamiliar. The songs were different. The preaching was in German, a language I couldn’t understand. The order of worship included elements I had never experienced before. In many ways, it was unlike any church service I had ever attended.

Yet, something remarkable happened. Although I should’ve felt like the foreigner that I was, I never felt out of place. I couldn’t understand the language, but I understood why everyone had gathered. We had come to worship the same Savior. It became obvious that what united us ran much deeper than language, culture, or ceremony. We were brothers and sisters in Christ, gathered around the same Gospel and worshiping the same Lord.

That Sunday morning gave me a fresh appreciation for the beauty of Christ’s church. Our expressions of worship may differ from place to place, but our unity is found in Christ. The body of Christ spans every nation, language, and culture, and when we worship with believers wherever we travel, we’re reminded that we’re part of something far greater than our own local congregation.

Of course, while my experience in Germany was both unique and encouraging, not every church that identifies itself as Christian faithfully teaches the Word of God. For that reason, it’s wise to spend a few minutes researching a church before you visit. Read its statement of faith and make sure it clearly affirms the authority of Scripture, the person and work of Jesus Christ, and salvation by grace alone through faith alone. A little preparation beforehand can help you find a church where your family will be spiritually encouraged and where Christ is faithfully proclaimed.

Even in churches that are biblically sound, you may notice differences in baptism, the observance of the Lord’s Supper, church government, or the structure of the worship service. If your children ask, “Why do they do that?” don’t be afraid of the question. In fact, welcome it. Some of the best discipleship takes place during conversations on the drive back to the hotel or around the dinner table. If you don’t know the answer, bring those questions home and discuss them with one of our pastors or another mature believer. Those conversations often strengthen our own understanding of Scripture and deepen our appreciation for the biblical convictions of our own church.

After visiting another congregation, resist the temptation to evaluate the service by whether you liked the music or preferred the style. Instead, ask questions such as, “What did we learn from God’s Word today?” “How did the preaching point us to Christ?” and “How did this church seek to honor the Lord?” Those questions help us focus our family’s worship on what truly matters.

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the example of making worship a priority wherever life takes us. Years from now, they may not remember the hotel where we stayed, the restaurants where we ate, or even many of the attractions we visited. But they may remember that every Sunday our family sought out a faithful church because worshiping Christ was never something we took a vacation from. That example may become one of the most enduring spiritual legacies we leave them.