Why Go To Church?
I'm working on an article for a Christian magazine on the topic of "Why go to church?"
Obviously, there is a Biblical mandate, but despite the importance of not forsaking the gathering together, many Christians—particularly older Christians— find themselves disinterested and bored with church.
I found it interesting in the Reveal study (WillowCreek) that this experience of “dissatisfaction” with church coincided with what many churches are struggling with as they are losing veteran believers from their membership. Yet I believe we desperately need older believers in the church to mentor the young, provide wisdom, and exemplify what it means to finish well in the faith.
So what reasoning beyond "The Bible tells me so" should be presented when discussing with people why they should engage in the local church?
Obviously, there is a Biblical mandate, but despite the importance of not forsaking the gathering together, many Christians—particularly older Christians— find themselves disinterested and bored with church.
I found it interesting in the Reveal study (WillowCreek) that this experience of “dissatisfaction” with church coincided with what many churches are struggling with as they are losing veteran believers from their membership. Yet I believe we desperately need older believers in the church to mentor the young, provide wisdom, and exemplify what it means to finish well in the faith.
So what reasoning beyond "The Bible tells me so" should be presented when discussing with people why they should engage in the local church?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Laura Springer on -
The Body grows as the members function properly (Eph 4:15-16). The entertainment mentality and the professional pastorate have undercut this, leading to feelings of uselessness and boredom in mature believers. An overemphasis on evangelism also contributes. It will take creativity and intention to go against the grain and develop functioning believers.
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Permalink Reply by Margaret Feinberg on -
Laura,
I think your assessment has a lot of truth in it, and highlights a lot of problems/weaknesses/struggles--but what are some practical solutions? And again, beyond the body growing--why should a person go to church?
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Permalink Reply by Laura Springer on
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Margaret,
Off the top and in general terms, a person who follows Jesus should go to church to use their gifts and skills for the sake of others. This flows directly from the passage in Eph 4:15-16; the entertainment mentality--of both members and leaders--goes directly against this teaching.
The disinterest and boredom felt by many mature Christians is a result, I think, of this failure to not only encourage others to minister, but to expect them to do so. If the only purpose of gathering together is to sit in a pew and soak up the same information you've been soaking up for years, then why go If that's all I did, I wouldn't go either. For many churches, there will be a lot of internal work that needs to be done before they will be able to convince the bored and underused ones to return.
What I'm thinking of here is bottom up ministry that is developed, not primarily by staff, but by members, flowing from their own skills and interests, and focused on ordinary life (meaning life outside the gatherings).
Now, I'm sure there are direct benefits to person, but honestly, I just don't see Scripture focusing on what we get out of the gathering. I see it focusing on what we bring to it.
I'll continue to ponder and look forward to your reply.
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Permalink Reply by Margaret Feinberg on
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Laura,
I think you're right--so much of is a something that needs to be considered by leaders from the inside out--not just the outside in. And yes, the focus does seem to be what we bring, yet just like the scripture talks about giving--when we give we all know we get so much more that is intangible. So I think maybe as I type out loud, I'm pondering the intangibles of church. Those ones that make us all go, "yeah--I need that", like I need people who are different than me to challenge me and cause me to grow, I need a crazy lady floating around the back pews (yes, I'm convinced God ensures every congregation gets it's own crazy lady/crazy guy) to keep me dependent and humble, I need to be challenged not just on what I believe but why I believe it...there are these intangibles that oft happen in church that I need.
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Permalink Reply by Patricia Pope on -
We should engage in the local church for mutual encouragement, growth in our faith, linking with fellow believers to impact the world through outreach as well as to share in our mutual devotion of God through corporate worship.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Bennett on
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We are supposed to be salt & light (Matt 5:13 - Check it out from the Message here http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:13;&ver...;).
To whom else can we turn for new ideas, new perspective, and encouragement as we hear from others just how they're bringing God's Kingdom to their neighbourhood?
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Permalink Reply by Will kinchlea on -
Quite simply, I think it is just good to be together.
What everyone else has said so far is true as well, but we were made to be in community. Positive community (beyond the family unit - and even then) is just not something that can be counted on in the Western culture. It obviously has to be more than a mutual admiration society, but being around other people is a good in and of itself, I think.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Cook on -
It seems to me, there is a key distinction between the first question "why go to church?" and the end question "Why should someone be engaged in the local church?" The former is about attending an event; the second is about a way of life--and I'm sure you'd agree that the latter is where our focus ought to be.
"The Church" is shorthand for the sphere that God has (and is) marking out as his place of renewal and restoration. Engagement, participation, and transformation within this sphere is the Christian life.
And I think it could be argued that everything else is just falling apart. (Be well!)
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Permalink Reply by Margaret Feinberg on
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But can we be the church apart from going to church, really? Some would knee jerk response, yes, but there seems an aspect of church that is so essential to that journey. Now of course there are places where such attendance would be impossible or viewed as a luxury, but still...
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Permalink Reply by Terry Dawson on -
Sorry about being late to the party -- Jeff, this is nail on the head stuff:
"The Church" is shorthand for the sphere that God has (and is) marking out as his place of renewal and restoration. Engagement, participation, and transformation within this sphere is the Christian life."
This is exactly it! And so to also then respond to Margaret's (looking forward to your article) further question: "...can we be the church apart from going to church, really?" I would say no, but I think the emPHAHSIS is on the wrong syllAHBLE.
We think "attending" which then is hopefully benefiting. We should think "being" which we can't attend, we're already where the attending are located.
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Permalink Reply by Laura Harper on -
I'm glad you are writing an article on this topic. I've been thinking a couple of things lately... such as the idea of "going to church" vs. "being church". I'm sure I'm not the first one to consider the distinction, but I have to wonder, what would it look like in my everyday life to say "I am church". Getting together then, like Will said, would simply be good... Praying, sharing scripture, encouraging and sharpening each other more as a lifestyle... Maybe inviting people to church would be inviting them into a relationship... with us and with God... to hang out wherever we hang out...
I'm sure this would be a challenge for a gathering of any size, but it sure seems refreshing to think about... Any thoughts on the practicality??
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Permalink Reply by Margaret Feinberg on
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Is going to church really "versus" being church. In the sense that it's more of a both/and then an either/or. I like what you write, "Maybe inviting people to church would be inviting them into a relationship with us and God." That one perspective could change who/how I invite to church.
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