It’s Sunday!
- I can worship on the tee box and greens at my local golf course.
- I can worship at the pool.
- I can worship at the lake.
- I can worship at my favorite breakfast place.
- I can worship in my jammies with a pop-tart and another cup of coffee.
Sound familiar? Maybe too familiar? Did you know that 50% of church attendees attend 50% less than just 10 years ago? I think that it’s because folks have so many options and too many reasons. Here are my beliefs as to why that’s the case:
- They been to church before and found it unwelcoming, cold, stale and unaccepting.
- They don’t find it helpful to their personal lives Monday-Saturday.
- They think the church is still the church of their childhood – No Thanks!
- They brand a church based on its members and attendees lives.
- The Music isn’t what they prefer.
- The speaker/preacher is too ____________________.
- My kid just never fits in.
- They heard their parents berate the pastor or church after leaving said church, for years.
- The church feels like they are always asking for money and children’s workers
- They are bored stiff in that 60-minute window of life.
For what it’s worth – Theses theories and more are, at times valid and logical. But they are based on an attitude of “what’s in it for me.”
I want to encourage you to find a church that erases most of this list with a church that meets the needs of you and your family with this list:
- The church that is welcoming.
- The church that teaches the Bible without political motive.
- The church that is lively and fun.
- The church that will actually serve you and its community.
- The church that is big enough to provide great children’s and student ministries, but still knows your name.
- The church that allows you to worship with music, not just listen to it.
- The church that really teaches the Bible, allowing you to understand it and live it.
- The church that is blind to bigotry and race.
- The church that maximizes the time that you have given to them on Sunday.
- The church’s pastor that isn’t the hero of every story.
There is no such thing as a perfect church! If there were, I’d join it and screw it up!
Have the Greatest Sunday!
–AChuck