I love church just as much as the next guy, but…

Skipping church doesn’t mean you’re going to hell.

But it does mean you’ll miss out on ALOT.

Accountability
An unexamined life is not one worth living.  Step into the light, don’t hide in the dark.  People who avoid church often avoid allowing others to lovingly walk alongside them and help them to work through their sin issues.  Let’s be honest- we’ve all got major hang-ups… it’s very hard to win by yourself.  You need a team.  You need a family.

Giving
On-mission churches are pretty much the best investment going.  If a community of Christ-followers is seriously tapped into the things of God, then giving a weekly offering should be like heroine- a total rush.  Kingdom investment almost ALWAYS suffers when we disconnect from church.  Church reminds us that this thing called life is WAY bigger than just us.

It’ll Sharpen You
The thing that makes the church so awesome is that it grinds on you.  Let me explain.  People have a way of bugging you, don’t they?  Me too.  I think God planned it that way.  It allows us to grow in love and patience and all the other gifts of the spirit.  Proverbs 27:17 says “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

My former pastor, Dave Overholt, described it something like this… if you were a sheep and only hung around with a few other sheep, you’d always stay the same.  But the church is like a really big barn- you’ve got your sheep, cows, horses, and pigs (especially around potlucks). All these different types of ‘animals’ help you stretch and grow and see different perspectives.  Maybe ya’ll don’t get along- but that’s part of the joy of becoming one in Christ.

We’re an army.
You gotta remember- this is spiritual people!  We need each other- for protection (defense) and kingdom advancement (offense.)  I love what Mark Driscoll once said: “We’re getting ready to charge hell with squirt guns!” Church allows you to be part of a squadron of soldiers- you get to take up lines with heroes of the faith and fight the only fight worth fighting- for that of the rescue of a world that’s falling apart.  You’ll never to that from the couch.

I’ll confess- I didn’t “go to church” on Sunday. But I DEFINITELY met with God and some godly people.  Michelle and I went out for dinner at Ribfest in Guelph with James and Karen Kelly.  About 4 hours of our time together was spent in deep conversation about the things of God and how He was working in our lives.  We challenged each other on some things. We encouraged each other. We shared our hearts.  We dreamed and planned for some “God things” in the near future.  We shared our wealth (we paid for ribs, they paid for dessert!)  They shared their stuff with us (loaned us a box of Catalyst Lab CDs for our trip!)  Maybe we weren’t in any particular building, but “church” was definitely in session!

Intentional community.
Church is about being part of the conversation.  About constantly being connected to what God is saying and God is doing in the lives of those who love Jesus in your midst.  It’s about being on vision TOGETHER, for the good of your city.

I know people who sit in church every single Sunday for the past 20 years and have yet to engage in that conversation.

They’ve yet to lift a finger in service of God’s kingdom alongside their fellow workers in Christ.  They refuse to open up, refuse to step up, refuse to enter into the ‘community of the saints.’  It’s not that these people lack passion- I’ve seen them watch sports.  I’ve heard them quote movies.  I’ve witnessed their skill at mind-numbing time-wasting games.  Yet they never step out and live a real life adventure.  They’ve missed the point of church.

Here’s what a few of you are trying to do:
You agree so far in that you don’t like going to church on Sunday.  But you’re also not being intentional about being connected to the Body of Christ.  No, you’re using that time to sleep in.  You’re using that time to entertain yourself.  You’re bad talking others and avoiding certain people.  You’re wholly believing of the fact that you’re too good for that church.  And so you’re fading away.

CUT THAT CRAP OUT.  You’re not fooling anyone.  You’re rebellious and lazy and self-focused and pride-filled.  Submit, discipline, renew your vision, and humble yourself to the point that you can regularly and intentionally be a part of a community that loves Jesus and people immensely.

And for the rest, I leave you with the exhortation of Hebrews 10:25 today…

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Jay

Stop Working for Jesus. New blog post by Michelle for the girls.