Why Should I Attend Church?
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." ~ John 14:26
Amid the politics, socialism, institutionalism, education, business, and formulaic mentality, I often leave feeling uninspired and with little desire to return.
The preaching is generally adequate, but it often lacks urgency, passion, or strong exhortation. Many sermons seem overly scripted, designed to inspire while allowing me to keep one foot in the world. They come close to being impactful but stop short to avoid offending or upsetting the congregation.
The community I am supposed to fellowship with is even less inspiring. It consists largely of people who hide their true selves behind masks. Their conversations, even when biblical, feel self-absorbed and centered on their worldly lives. When biblical topics are discussed, it is mostly about how God can serve their needs. Soon, discussions shift to trivial matters like tacos or extracurricular activities. I even heard a woman in a small group complain that she saw no point in continuing because she wasn’t making friends.
I need to be exhorted, encouraged, and rebuked, as I know how easily my flesh can rear its ugly head. I should find joy in a church that encourages me to grow and draw closer to Christ, one that isn’t afraid to remind me of the narrow path. A church like this demonstrates a genuine love for God and an unselfish heart for souls.
Christians have told me I should continue to fellowship in hopes of making a difference to others, but often I end up feeling like the odd one out. Even when I question what we are doing, the church leaders also make me feel this way.
I begin to wonder if I am misreading the Bible. In the book of Acts, people are eager to serve God, sell all they have for Him, and fellowship to do His work, yet when I look at church today, I see quite the opposite.
I suppose I could go on sitting in the pews day after day, living for the world while trying to fit God in somewhere. I could try to excite myself with new Christians until they become disheartened like me. I could accept this as the status quo of the church and just go with the flow until one day I die.
The Problem
The concern is that if I set an example that leads others to follow a similar path, but they are not genuinely saved, I might be unintentionally encouraging them to sit alongside me while I go to Heaven, and they end up in Hell. If we portray the broad path that leads to destruction as the narrow one, their blood is on our hands.
Don’t we have to answer to God as Christians? What will I say to Him? How will I excuse my behavior?
Don't we need to help each other grow? Should we no longer fear, and hide in shadows, because we have a God that protects and esteems us? If I fear, and still suffer with selfishness, I am catering to my flesh and I need to grow, not be helped to keep catering to my flesh.
In the end, am I not losing too, because I am failing to grow closer to Christ? And that is truly tragic.
