Simson describes three different kinds of church gatherings, home church (10-15), congregational (50-499 ish), and area wide celebration (>500). This prayer, along with many others, has evolved from a congregational mentality. I heard it prayed in a congregation just last week in Ohio, and many other times before, as I am sure you have as well. Would this be the same prayer you would pray at a home church?
“Thank you for giving us Sunday to worship you” implies several things.
1. God has appointed set times for worship.
2. Singing such stanzas following is worship in its purest form:
“When death has come and taken our loved ones,
It leaves our home so lonely and drear,
Then do we wonder why others prosper
Living so wicked year after year.”
“I'm satisfied with just a cottage below
A little silver and a little gold
But in that city where the ransomed will shine
I want a gold one that's silver lined”
3. God is perfectly happy with us spending 4 hours per week, sometimes only 1 hour in worship, bible study, fellowship, and everything else we file under Christianity. Out of 168 hours we have per week, this only comes out to .5% to 2% of our time. This becomes even less when we zone out or do not gain insight from the sermon that has become the focus of our gathering or become irritated when that guy leads the really long prayer of thanking God for letting us spend even less time with him, yep, I even have timed a few of them. You can think of further distractions.
4. It also implies that the following teachings did not come from God.
Hosea 6:6
NLT
“I want you to be merciful; I don't want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that's more important than burnt offerings.”
RSV
“For I desire steadfast love, and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings.”
Acts 2:42-47
NRSV
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
I do not think any of this was apart of the house churches earlier centuries. We have been given, by God, every day to worship him in everything we do.
Colossians 3:12-17 NLT
“Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are all called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.”
Could this be accomplished in 1-4 hours each week?
Being a part of a close knit group allows us to grow together such as Paul describes. As Christians, we do need to meet together throughout the week with the purpose of serving God. We cannot wait around for some ordained pastor or minister to set up some kind of program for us to do, nor do we need this sort of laid back approach to doing church. We have already been taught what we need to do.