Have you quit church? If so, please humor me and take a minute or two to read this.
All kinds of studies and articles have been written in recent years about the mass exodus of people leaving churches. They believe in God, Jesus, the Bible, etc. They’ve just walked away from the church. And there are lots of reasons why. Some I understand and sympathize with. Some I don’t get. But please let me humbly offer the following:
The church needs you. I promise you that among any group of God’s people, there are many who are hurting in some way. When you quit church, there is one less connection in these people’s lives to help them. You may say, “I help people,” and I’m sure you do. But I promise you that there are people quietly hurting that find encouragement in something as simple as your presence among the church. There is strength in numbers.
You need the church. I might not know everything about you, but I know you need the church. Yes, I know that you can worship God at the comfort of your coffee table and in the majesty of His mountaintops. But there is something unique that happens when a group of God’s people come together to praise him and encourage one another. You can’t get that by yourself, and you’re robbing yourself by not taking advantage of those opportunities. If you have children, you are robbing them too. Our children need to see spiritual community in action. They need to know the stories of the Bible. They need to see older people who lead lives of enduring faith. They need to worship with people who look different from them. You see, we were made in God’s image. The Bible depicts God as a spiritual, social servant. I need to be the same. Church provides a unique opportunity for me to experience spiritual, social service.
The world needs healthy churches. Do you know what this nation, this world, and your own community needs more than anything else? Jesus. How are they going to come into contact with Jesus? His church. The church is his body, and connected together, we carry out his work (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). You can’t be a part of Jesus’ church when you are disconnected to his body. Disconnected churches are a disservice to the local community. More importantly, they are an insult to Jesus.
When you quit church, it helps no one. Whether you read this on a Monday morning or Saturday night, do everyone a favor – be blessed and be a blessing by unquitting church.
All kinds of studies and articles have been written in recent years about the mass exodus of people leaving churches. They believe in God, Jesus, the Bible, etc. They’ve just walked away from the church. And there are lots of reasons why. Some I understand and sympathize with. Some I don’t get. But please let me humbly offer the following:
The church needs you. I promise you that among any group of God’s people, there are many who are hurting in some way. When you quit church, there is one less connection in these people’s lives to help them. You may say, “I help people,” and I’m sure you do. But I promise you that there are people quietly hurting that find encouragement in something as simple as your presence among the church. There is strength in numbers.
You need the church. I might not know everything about you, but I know you need the church. Yes, I know that you can worship God at the comfort of your coffee table and in the majesty of His mountaintops. But there is something unique that happens when a group of God’s people come together to praise him and encourage one another. You can’t get that by yourself, and you’re robbing yourself by not taking advantage of those opportunities. If you have children, you are robbing them too. Our children need to see spiritual community in action. They need to know the stories of the Bible. They need to see older people who lead lives of enduring faith. They need to worship with people who look different from them. You see, we were made in God’s image. The Bible depicts God as a spiritual, social servant. I need to be the same. Church provides a unique opportunity for me to experience spiritual, social service.
The world needs healthy churches. Do you know what this nation, this world, and your own community needs more than anything else? Jesus. How are they going to come into contact with Jesus? His church. The church is his body, and connected together, we carry out his work (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). You can’t be a part of Jesus’ church when you are disconnected to his body. Disconnected churches are a disservice to the local community. More importantly, they are an insult to Jesus.
When you quit church, it helps no one. Whether you read this on a Monday morning or Saturday night, do everyone a favor – be blessed and be a blessing by unquitting church.