Something that has bothered me for years has been those in the Church who "church shop." I saw it as a kid. When someone left the church over something petty, chances were good they would eventually return. After all, they would never be happy.
This morning I received an illustration that I think is right on. Friend and fellow pastor Brian Jones writes Non-Religious Devotional Thoughts. You can find out more at www.BrianJones.com This installment is called Connoisseurs of Fine Churches. Enjoy!
Connoisseurs of Fine Churches
By Brian Jones
After church services one Sunday a couple greeted me on their way out the door. By their cologne and big jewelry and cliché Christian lingo I knew they weren't our typical non-religious visitors. "Pastor, what an anointed word from God you delivered today," the husband said. I cringed. The only people that talk that way are on Christian television.
I swallowed and said, "Hope to see you next week."
His wife looked at me with a grin, "Nope. We won't be back. Years ago the Lord told us to attend a different church every week. So we'll be somewhere else next Sunday."
I said, "Let me get this straight. You go to a different church every week?"
"Yep," he said, "been doing it for five years now."
I said, "How sad."
"Why do you say that?" she angrily shot back.
"Because," I said, "you never get to experience real Christian community. You're, like, connoisseurs of fine churches or something. My hunch is it wasn't the Lord who called you to do this. You need to find a church and put down roots."
Needless to say they didn't come back.
It's sad, really.
We've become a nation of church shoppers. If the preaching gets boring at our church, we pull out the yellow pages. If the worship style changes, we go to First Church's early service. If our Sunday school class starts to get too impersonal, we don't sweat it, we try the hot new church in town.
We Christians change churches like we change favorite restaurants.
I'm sure that makes God sad.
In the New Testament there are dozens and dozens of things Christians are told to do. Leaving one another is not one of them.
In fact, we're told to do the exact opposite.
Is there someone at your church you can't stand? 1 John 3:11 tells us to "Love one another."
Did the pastor at your fellowship hurt your feelings? Colossians 3:13 says, "Forgive one another."
Do the attitudes of the people in your body need to change? James 5:16 says, "Pray for one another."
In other words, roll up your sleeves and do the hard work of building community where you are. Don't go AWOL spiritually. Stick it out, through exciting times and boring times. Pray, serve, love, forgive, sacrifice, and resolve like authentic followers of Jesus.
My parents started attending Eastpointe Christian Church when they were both in the 7th grade. They're now in their 60's. They've never attended another church. Over the past 50 years they've seen quite a lot. They lived through the "clapping in church" controversy of 1975 as well as the mediocre church softball team of the early 90's. They've seen people get married, have children, and those children get married and have children. They've seen hundreds of people come to Christ and some of those people fall by the wayside. They've buried dear friends. They've served with great pastors and mediocre pastors and experienced great worship and boring worship. Through calm years and tumultuous years, my parents have given and served and prayed their entire lives in that one church.
One day in the future my mom and dad will pass, as you and I will. But right before that happens they'll be able to do something someone who has spent their life church shopping cannot; they'll look back and savor the memories a lifetime of faithful service in one congregation brings.
They'll look back and relish the dangerous conversations they didn't avoid, sins they were encouraged to confront, and authentic Christians friendships it took a generation to develop.
Jesus wants you to experience the same thing.
I'm sure you know this already, but it's worth repeating. That "perfect church" you're looking for already exists. You attended it last Sunday.
Any thoughts?
in distressing, dangerous, evil times
6 hours ago
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11 comments:
i see nothing wrong with attending a different gathering once a week. and i see noting wrong with attending the same gathering once a week.
i think that all should be welcomed into a gathering that have come to worship God and that God will deal with everyone's heart.
Hi Mike, it's nice to see you posting again on the blog. :)
I agree, it is important to stay committed to the church that one attends. I think the issue has some parallels to marriage. Just as one does not lightly give up on a marriage, one should not lightly give up on his church.
God bless,
Kevin
Nancy,
I agree that all should be welcome around the table. However, what Jones (and I) is concerned about is the redefining of committment in our society. The attitude of "If I don't like it, I'll just take my toys and go home," has even permeated the Church. That is what I think is sad.
Have a blessed day!
m
Kevin,
Thanks for noticing the return. I look forward to catching up on your blog over the next few weeks.
I do see the same idea of commitment in marriage. Thanks for stopping by!
m
the way i have been looking at it lately is that the church as it is on earth is not perfect, and it will not be perfect until Jesus returns. i think that each generation and each individual is looking for what "they" think that church should be, in their minds eye, from desire for what the church being perfect to the church being what they remember in their youth. everyone has a different reason for gathering and this is reflected in what is going on right now. it has not helped that there are leaders have used many different ploys to increase their numbers. so it is many mans's expectations that causes most of the problems of the gathering of believers. and it seems that right now the expectations are pretty high, because people are afraid, distracted from the truth, and mainly thinking of themselves and the bottom line.
the answer to it all is simple, but it is not simple to put people's mind where the answer truly is.
i agree that if someone is seeking a chruch to belong to, that they should be looking in the right frame of mind.
and if somone already belongs to a church that has problems, the problems should be looked at carefully in the light that no gathering is perfect, and what the problems are.
are the problems really something to leave, or are they something to be loved and supported in or through together.
are the problems our perception and desire for perfection? are they our personal expectations?
being a part of a group takes accepting others faults along with our own. patience and kindness...actually, well, here i am again, following Jesus, so that the fruit of the Spirit is there.
are wereally encouraging each other to look to Jesus every day?
it is easy for each and every one of us to get caught up in finding flaws, and finding many other things to concentrate on besides looking to Jesus in our day.
i honestly think this is where the main problem sits...quitely in the center, right in front of each of our noses...and we keep looking off to the side for something else.
thank you for such a good and thoughtful post and reply. it really had me thinking.
nAncY
Hello again JSTW/Nancy.
I agree that the Church on earth is imperfect because people are involved. However, the Church was instituted by Christ for several reasons - chief of those is to fulfill the "Love others" command.
In my opinion, the problem is when people don't care to invest in true relationship/community. In other words, all communites take work. They demand effort on everyone's part. Too often, people in the Church (who should understand community) don't care enough about the others to invest. It's much easier to just leave.
I anticipate having more posts on this in the future and would like to hear your thoughts.
Blessings,
m
i would say that to form a united church community, it is important to "continuall" encourage one another in the direction of following Jesus.
if this is not first in a Christian community then there is bound to be more division of self interest and sin nature.
thanks for continuing in this.
I agree with some of the reflections posted, however I do believe one on the key reasons people jump ship and have a revolving church era now is people are looking to the church for the wrong reasons. May I explain they want to come to church on Sunday morning and not get involved in the everyday activities that it takes to build a strong church, it takes every member to acheive this. We all forget that we are here to serve not be served and this is why may folks can not handle the truth at hand. GOD always rewoards the faithful servant throughout the BIBLE, and do not get me wrong he does not reward the one looking for a reward or saying if I give this 100 dollors as an example he will give me 1000 unfortunately that is not what service is. I thank GOD for wonderful Christain parents and Grandparents in my life may GOD BLESS you and your family in the church you serve in.
Scott M
I am curious about something! I find it to be very double standard when it is ok when a "minister", and I use that term loosely, jumps from one church to another every couple years and in many cases leaves behind a "body" in ruins, and yet its not ok for members in the church to seek out other options where they can actually be ministered to and fed?!
If you are expecting the members to stick around and deal with all the drama and not getting the "meat" they need and feeling more drained when they leave than before they got there and dreading going because the leadership is not taking care of the business God has handed them then what are they getting out of it all?!
If a person is convicted that what is going on in the church is not what they believe to be the will of God for the church and they approach leadership about the situation or situations at hand and it falls on deaf ears what is expected of the member?!
People need to know that when they find a church home they will walk away feeling full and at peace, not empty and burdened!!
If someone happens to go "church shopping" to find a home where they can actually be part of the body, be ministered to and be able to minister in turn then that is what they need to do!!
If they are going to a church where the minister does nothing except preach and teach on Sundays and Wednesdays and that is all he calls serving, and comes up with things others in the church can do but doesn't get off his/her tail to actually work, I believe something is wrong!
When a minister, pastor, preacher, etc., sits on his/her rear all week doing nothing but playing games on the computer instead of getting out into the community and ministering to those who need it I truly believe there is something very wrong with the head of that body!! Why would anyone want to be affiliated with that?
I agree Scott!
Anon,
I think you might have missed the point in Brian's post. As for ministry that only happens on Sunday and Wednesdays, I think we both know that not to be the case. Ministry is 24/7. Come hang out sometime.
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