I need to look for another job, but the ones in this area require working every other Sunday. What should I do?
Question:
Dear Minister:
I am a married woman in the church. As much as I want to not work or work part-time, it is not what my husband wants me to do. I currently have a job that allows me to be off on Sundays. This job will no longer be available soon, and I have been looking for other options. The only jobs available in the same field in our area would require missing all services every other Sunday and Wednesday. My husband wants to have the Lord's Supper and devotionals in our home, but this all feels like a direct violation of "forsaking the assembly" in Hebrews. I do not want to go against my husband. I will of course be able to attend every other week, but I am uneasy with this.
What is your advice?
Thanks.
Answer:
The Lord's Supper is to be taken by the members of the church together.
- "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (I Corinthians 10:16-17).
- "... when you come together as a church ..." (I Corinthians 11:18).
- In doing it wrong, Paul scolds, "Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper" (I Corinthians 11:20).
You and your husband are Christians, but you are not a church. You have a church to which you belong, so taking the Lord's Supper at home does not fulfill the Lord's command.
What I would recommend doing is telling your potential boss that you need to attend services on Sunday, so is it possible to take an extended lunch break so you can worship and if needed you can work later to make up any lost time. The same thing can be done with Wednesday Bible study. It has been my observation that most employers have no problems with this type of arrangement.
