Not going to church, part one

What happens when you find that you are disconnected from church? For some it has been a couple of weeks, while others its months and maybe even years. People stop going to church for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is because they are hurt, other times it is because they are busy while other times they just don’t see the need for it anymore. Some, think that they even stepped within the church the walls would fall down or they would be struck by lighting.

I have recently found myself in this place of not going to church. My particular reasons fall within one of the two things above. Personally, I did not come from a typical “Christian Family” per se. My family experience fell in what church leaders call the Christmas and Easter crowd. Me, on the other hand, seemed to find himself in church almost every week. Even at an early age, I remember getting a ride or walking to a local church. The fact is I felt “out of water” not going to church only missing once in a while when I was sick or left out of town, even then I still looked for a church to visit.

Through the years I continued to find myself in church leadership in some capacity, even worked as a paid leader when I was younger. Now it has been two months since I have been to church. Though the experience I can genuinely say I have learned some things through it. Maybe even some things that will help you along.

First, you will most likely get hurt in church… FACT The truth is people hurt people. We should hope that as Christians it would happen less, but unfortunately it probably happens more. I think it is worthwhile to remember not everyone that GOES to church IS a Christian. Matthew 7:21, says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” NIV

Also, there is nothing more toxic than broken people, who believe they have it all together then try to make other people around them live impossible religious lives full of rules and expectations they themselves can’t even meet. Jesus dealt with a couple of groups of people just like this in the bible called the Scribes and Pharisees, see Matthew 23.

Offenses will come, and we should expect them. When they do you have a choice to make. Get bitter and leave or choose to forgive as Jesus told us to do in Matthew 18:21-22. When we were children we were told to say I forgive you when someone said they were sorry. The truth is they may never say it and don’t even think they did anything wrong. You still have a choice to forgive them. The cool thing is that it will release YOU from a cell of bitterness when you do. God will deal with the other party eventually. You only have the ability to make changes in you.

Having this knowledge may bring the freedom you need to try going to church again this week. Remember in spite of the problems in the Church. The Bible tells us to be there and God uses the good and bad in the Church to help us grow to be the person he is calling us to be. Continued next week...