"church service"

-

I just had a thought after church today that made me go "hmmm..." Why, when church is over on Sundays, do we say that "the service has ended"? Why do we say things like "church got out" or "church was let out"? I've always thought of that Sunday morning fellowship as a "church service". I've been raised with that terminology. I've never given thought to what it means.

Service -

1. The act of serving; the occupation of a servant; the performance of labor for the benefit of another, or at another's command; attendance of an inferior, hired helper, slave, etc., on a superior, employer, master, or the like; also, spiritual obedience and love.
2. The deed of one who serves; labor performed for another; duty done or required; office.
3. Office of devotion; official religious duty performed; religious rites appropriate to any event or ceremonial; as, a burial service.
4. Hence, a musical composition for use in churches.
5. Duty performed in, or appropriate to, any office or charge; official function; hence, specifically, military or naval duty; performance of the duties of a soldier.
6. Useful office; advantage conferred; that which promotes interest or happiness; benefit; avail.
7. Profession of respect; acknowledgment of duty owed.
8. The act and manner of bringing food to the persons who eat it; order of dishes at table; also, a set or number of vessels ordinarily used at table; as, the service was tardy and awkward; a service of plate or glass.
9. (Law) The act of bringing to notice, either actually or constructively, in such manner as is prescribed by law; as, the service of a subp[oe]na or an attachment.
10. (Naut.)The materials used for serving a rope, etc., as spun yarn, small lines, etc.
11. (Tennis) The act of serving the ball.
12. Act of serving or covering.

I think that #3 is the one that applies to a "church service". My question though is this : Why do we call it that? It's really a meeting of believers to worship the Lord together, learn about Him, and fellowship with each other. The way in which we call it a "service" implies that it is a duty that must be performed. Some people even think that, by performing this "duty", they will be saved. It doesn't work that way though! Should we be calling it a "church service"?

In addition, why do we say we are "getting out" of church or being "let out"? Are we trapped in there? My point in asking all of this is simply this : When we use this terminology, are we not suggesting to those we are speaking to that we are "trapped" into performing an obigatory "duty" for the Lord? As if He needs us!!!!

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.

- Acts 17:24-25

We are called to be servants, but that calling is not a Sunday morning "thing". It is something we should be practicing always. Therefore, maybe we should consider referring to our Sunday morning gatherings as "meetings" and "fellowships" instead of "services". We should be there willingly and joyfully to worship the Lord with our fellow believers and encourage each other through fellowship, right? We should be wary of what we call it, lest we let that terminology seep so deep into our minds that it becomes only that, a short time of service and duty to the Lord once a week...

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

- Philippians 2:1-11

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

- Hebrews 9:22