Uncategorized Murray McLellan on 19 Dec 2008 06:44 pm
Stop going to church!!!
Keith Watson has written a great intro to their next sermon series. He brings out some very important points for us to not only read and believe conceptually, but to really believe in our hearts such that it is what is lived out in our lives. Here is a portion of that intro…
One thing that I never really grasped going to church as a kid is that Jesus doesn’t want us to go to church. What He desires is that we BE the church. There is an enormous difference between the two.
Going to church is an activity - perhaps a frequent an important activity, but an activity none the less.
Being the church invades every area of our life - it is who we are, not what we do.
Going to church always keeps a line between us and them. It is easy when we go to church to say things like, the church (they) should do this, or that. The church should help with this or that, or, be more active in missions…
Being the church erases all lines. It isn’t us and them - it is US - WE are the church. So instead of saying that the church should do this or that, it is WE should do this or that.
Going to church tends to separate our lives into parts - the secular, where we live, and play, and work, and the sacred - where we go on Sunday to do religious things.
Being the church takes away the false dichotomy of secular and sacred. Our life is lived as the sacred body of Christ as we go about life - living, playing, and working.
Going to church promotes for weekly surface relationships and shallow conversations.
Being the church means that we take risks as we enter into gospel centered relationships that are deep and personal. It means that we move beyond the facade of a Sunday morning community meeting and dive into ‘doing life together.’
Going to church makes it easy to hop, skip, and jump around from one church place to another in search of the place that offers the right mix of what suits you.
Going to church makes it easy to stay unplugged, never serving, never using the spiritual gifts God has given.
Being the church means that the body of believers is not complete unless I am plugged in and serving in my God given, God gifted area. It means that I understand that this is not only a matter of what i receive from others in the family, but what I give to them - I am being built up and I am building others up - I am being served and I am serving. Without that balance I am missing out and others are as well.
I could go on - I think that is some of the reasons why Jesus doesn’t want us to Go to church.
