Why Not to Go To Church?

Actually, it's a bunch of bad reasons to go to church in the first place. David Fitch at the blog Reclaiming the Mission posted 6 very good reasons not to go to church. Since this is Holy Week leading to some of the largest church attendance of the year, it might be a good time to review them. These reasons, Fitch says, are really ways that keep the church from living in a sense of mission. Here are the first two he mentions:

1. Out of Duty/Obligation
2. Because This is What it Means to Be a Christian.

Maybe a 7th reason this week is:

Because It's Easter.

Actually, the post reminded me of a time a number of years ago when our church was doing one of those periodic all-member phone visits to see if they were still members, interested, etc. One of the phone callers got to talk to an adult member's mother. The member in question, by the way, hadn't been in church the whole time I had been there as pastor at that point. Maybe 8 - 10 years.

"Does ***** still want to be a member of the church?" the caller asked.
"Sure," was the immediate response. "They want to go to heaven."

I think Fitch missed that one, too.

But on the other hand, there is always the hope that no matter what the reason they come, the act of being in church and participating even minimally in that experience may make a difference. We should never underestimate the power of God's Holy Spirit to work miracles. In fact, I remember hearing preacher extraordinaire Fred Craddock talk about Overhearing the Gospel, the title of one of his books. He said that the best way to do evangelism is for the church to simply live it's life and let those who are not yet Christian "overhear" the message.

Hopefully this Sunday that will happen again, no matter what the reason they are in church in the first place. May the Church be ready to do that well.