Would you believe me if I said I have never seen an episode of “The Simpsons”? It’s true. Not one. Nor Beavis and Butthead. Nor The Family Guy. Nor whatever “adult” cartoon is currently popular.
Anyway, I did find this funny though:
Obviously, Jesus did not die so that people could show up and sit in a pew on Sunday morning and snore during the sermon.
But here’s the real question: Did Jesus die so that people could show up and sit in a pew on Sunday morning and listen attentively to a sermon?
Of course not!
This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t sit in a pew on Sunday morning… I’m not saying that. All I am saying is that “attending church” on Sunday morning is not the final goal of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
Yet if that’s true, why is Sunday church service attendance the one event that gets the most attention, the most glory, and the most energy poured into every week around the world?
I’m just askin’…
Because church buildings are Christian Service Centers. You’ve got everything a Christian needs under one roof — weddings, funerals, baptisms, baby dedications, communion, offering, worship, fellowship, the Word, counseling….heck, they’ll even teach your kids about Jesus! And all in about an hour a week because they know you lead an “active lifestyle”. I call it ‘outsourcing your Christianity’.
That’s right! We have condensed following Jesus and the life of discipleship down to about 1 hour a week! It’s a modern miracle!
From the time I was a teen-ager I have been uneasy about some things in church. For that matter, so has Jesus. Read his comments in Rev 2&3. I have gone so far as to get a tattoo on my hand that is a “gangsforgod” symbol… There is a concept I believe in – for those that can not find a church they can feel alright with, they should form their own God Gang. Man I could go on and on about the faults of churches but that’s not my purpose. I just want to make two other points.
1. Your walk with God has got to come before your walk with the church. The Bible is clear that we all can know God equally. We should not let someone Lord it over us or tell us what to do or what to believe. and that verse… that says to obey those that have the rule over you… is a serious mistranslation, and anybody that is interested can find that out.
2. My second point – Church does not have to be always about teaching nor does it have to be so controlling. I attend a very good church. We focus on worship. We spend a lot of time singing, and dancing, yes dancing before God, and it’s not all rehearsed either.
I can get good Christian teaching many places, book store, TV, internet, but corporate worship in my church is a blast.
There is something to be said for gathering together with other believers for worship, singing, prayer, and encouragement.
Idolatry.
I’m just answerin’…
Ha! Well, I did ask.
Yes church has become and is nothing but Idolitry
Many of us were taught that attending the Sunday church service is what we’re supposed to do, so we can worship (usually that means the music), be instructed (the sermon) and find community (coffee and donuts after service?).
Many of us, however, never connected with the “worship” music, learned almost nothing from the sermons and didn’t belong to one of the cliques that gathered around the donut table.
Unfortunately, most of the Sunday services I’ve attended have been mostly the weekly “production” that people who give money to the church expect. The church should marry, bury, keep your teens out of trouble, help you out if you’re having marital problems and put on a weekly program to show you you’re getting your money’s worth.
Yes, I know all Sunday services are not that way, but we personally know of none that are not. Is it any surprise that this “model” just doesn’t work for more and more people? – For us, service is something we do, not something we go to.
There are some churches I have enjoyed attending, and have learned a lot from.
What about attending church for purely social/community reasons?