I was about 7 when I was pretty much forced to go to church (this pic is actually where I went to church!). I didn’t want to go. But after a short time, I actually wanted to go. Why? Because I met a friend and we were best friends til I moved away before tenth grade. For some reason, I could always be myself at church, which wasn’t always a good thing. In school, I was a perfect angel. In church, well, I got kicked out of Sunday School a few times. I didn’t always agree with my teachers. The teachers wanted to teach. I wanted to make people laugh. I know. I know…priorities…
By the time High School came around, going to church was pretty much a habit. I don’t remember much about the services or getting much out of them, but growing more familiar with the Scriptures was pretty much all I remembered in my growth (though I’m sure there was more). I also remember being released from my duties as a sound tech. Guess they didn’t like the extra high pitched squeals…
College was different. No parental pressure, though there was an unwritten pressure from Christian peers (I went to a Christian college). So I went to church sometimes on my own. My attendance dropped a bit from High School…until I found myself in a singing group that toured the area singing at churches. That kept me in the church. God knew what He was doing…
But what about now? Honestly, at times, it is a struggle. Sometimes, going to church is a way of life. It is what you do as a Christian. You go to church. See people. Talk. Learn a bit. Serve. Then go home. Done. Until next Sunday and you repeat the cycle. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. This is what it seems like sometimes. At least, it does to me as a professional Christian. Church becomes a Christian tradition, a meaningless Christian activity that should help us in our walk, but doesn’t. Sermons are fine. Worship is OK. People…well….most are pretty good…but going to church isn’t as uplifting as we desire.
Truth is, when church feels this way or it becomes a Christian activity, something is not right in our spirits. Spiritual growth is stagnant at church because it is stagnant outside of church. We’re not being fed at church partially because we’re not hungry enough. Loving people is lacking because loving God is lacking. Focus is often on the self while others, including God, simply become other characters in the church story life of blah. Of course, if we stayed in this mental place, going to church would simply become depressing.
Overall, I find this to be true: If church simply becomes a meaningless traditional Christian activity of the week, than the focus of my heart is too small. The best part about church is this: as a part of the body of Christ, we are part of something bigger than ourselves. It helps us to redirect our focus on what matters: 1) God & 2) God’s mission. Going to church helps us to look beyond ourselves and focus on loving others and focus on God. It helps us to see that we are not the center of our worlds.
One thing I ask the Lord, that as He changes me, that I would not implode by my own self-centeredness, but be amazed by His glory, His love, His Majesty, and His Awesomeness. I pray that church does not become a traditional thing to do, but an opportunity to leave my world of me and drink deeply of Him. I pray that I will cooperate with Him in preparing my heart to hear His by reading His Word and reading other godly books that will draw me to Him. Why did I write this article? Because I am a professional Christian. And the “every Sunday” can become mundane. So, I, like many others, need to be reminded that I need Him and that I need His people to love and to be loved by…Overall, I need to go to church.
