Church: What's the Big Deal?

Text: John 17:20-26

So... what exactly is the Church? Have you ever thought about that?

I mean, church is a place you go, right? Or is it something you do? Or is it gathering on Sundays? Is it a building? What constitutes a real, live legitimate church? I can hear you now, "I don't know... it's... well, stuff." You know, familiar stuff like greeters, bulletins, posters, contact cards, pews, pastors, Bibles, prayers, sermons, classes, songs, guitars, PowerPoints, illustrations, fellowship, coffee, donuts, ... as well as baptisms, Communion, baby dedications, altar calls, mission trips... and of course the all-important Offering... (dramatic pause). Now THOSE are the things of church, right?

Well, ya... maybe. But let's strip everything away for a moment, and ask, a simple question: What are the essential things that form and foster authentic Christian community? Let me ask it another way, How does Jesus want us modern-day Christian disciples to live in community with one another, in a way that most powerfully reflects Him and His earthly ministry? Yet another way: How can we love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength... and love our neighbor as ourselves?

Good question(s). Got any answers?

Way too often, I can see that Sunday morning church at The River does not accomplish what we so hope for... work for... and pray for. It lacks the energy necessary to worship God in His temple. The Word falls flat on deaf ears. The sermon (try as I might) sucks. There is a failure of hospitality. There is a complete lack of fellowship. People seem to be going through the motions. Way too many mistakes are made. Sometimes it seems as though nothing goes right. Besides, especially in the case of a church-plant, we don't offer all the necessary spiritual services that other churches offer... nursery, children's ministries, Sunday school, youth group, etc.

So why bother? What's the point of going to church, especially if it doesn't always function smoothly? Why invest in something that sometimes comes across as sub-par? Why do we go to church Sunday after Sunday... especially if it seems to have no impact? What's the big deal anyway?

Recently, I was told by someone close to me that church doesn't really do anything for them anymore. Another person told me it's just not a high priority to them. They come when they can, but they're busy people... and they're not going to revolve their busy schedules around church attendance. Yet another person told me they're just no longer church-goers at this season in their life. Too busy.

Wow, those are hard things for a pastor to hear... especially by people to which they are (or at least once were) very close. But no one said pastoring was easy. Nevertheless, those comments have stirred my thinking all over again these past few days... is church really as important as we pastor-types like to claim it is? Or are we really just trying to line our pockets and create job security?

What are the benefits of church attendance... really? Why should it be of higher importance than say, family time, or natural worship experiences like time hiking in the mountains? Why should getting together with other Christians (and hopefully, non-Christians) to spend 1-2 hours in a worship service once a week be so necessary? Why not just do a Bible study/prayer time with your family? Why not just participate in a home group without all the drama, all the politics, and all the hoopla? Where does the Bible ever command us to go to church... as in a place with religious bells and whistles?

Actually, I can only think of one semi-explicit place church-attendance is ever mentioned in the Bible - Hebrews 10:25 - and even that could be interpreted to mean small groups over any forms of liturgical corporate assembly.

  

I've come to believe that church attendance is kind of like the Trinity. It may not be explicitly commanded in the Bible - and it may not be easy to fully comprehend - but once our eyes are opened to the concept, we can't help but see it is the Truth of God's Word. We can debate it its usefulness, argue its relevancy, criticize its shortcomings... but with one full contextual reading of the Scriptures (Old Testament and New), it becomes abundantly clear that we were wired for deep, penetrating and formational, Christ-centered community. We were designed to worship God together His temple... that is, in corporate settings. We are shaped into the image of Christ as we live in fellowship with people not just like us (and whom we often find irritating). We may not even be able to grasp what we "got out of it" from week to week, but when we discipline ourselves (and our family) to seek something bigger than ourselves... and worship someOne much greater than ourselves - over time, something good and wonderful and beautiful begins to occur. Toleration becomes acceptance. Acceptance becomes desire. Desire becomes worship. Worship becomes servanthood. Servanthood becomes authentic. Authentic becomes love. Love becomes holy. Holiness transforms and resurrects that which was in a zombie-like state of walking death.

Family is important. Small groups are important. But neither one functions in full blossom according to the Way of Christ in a vacuum, apart from the ecclesia... apart from the Church. It may be imperfect from week to week, but the Resurrection Sunday corporate gathering of the saints is the ordained community of Jesus Christ. If you don't believe me, read the book of Acts. Besides, you're not "getting anything out of church" then you're probably not investing anything into the church either. (I'm not talking about money... I'm talking about your heart). Let's face it, spiritual gifts were meant to be opened up and shared with others in the family of God. What do you do with yours?

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

It's taken me awhile to come back to this conclusion... but with the help of brothers and sisters in Christ (especially you, Craig)... I have rediscovered that the Church really is the beautiful Bride of Christ. She is in fact, gorgeous in spite of her many flaws. But rather than ragging on her and criticizing her every fault... I want to once again tell the world how beautiful she really is. If the disciples of Jesus all sought to love and appreciate her virtues more...  then perhaps the world would come to know that God really did send His son... because they can see that we truly love one another.