To Church or Not To Church- That is the Question

As I was driving around today, I had a thought come to my mind.  It was a thought about church hoppers.  You know what I mean, those people who tend to go from church to church, never actually settling in to a church home.  Then my thought went to those who have a church home, but leave suddenly, with the doors swinging as though a ghost had gone through them...  Finally, my thoughts landed on those who have no church home at all.  Those who are Christians but don't attend church anywhere.  They just sit at home. 

My thoughts, though ranging across differing types of Christians, all revolved around one central question.  It was a simple question, really.  That little itty bitty...  Why?

I can't help it, I am a very curious individual.  Why is a rather common question in my thinking.  One thing that I commonly ask myself is, why do people think or act the way they do?  I can't help it!  I want to know.  So I pondered these questions, why do people church hop?  Why do people leave churches suddenly?  Why do Christians sit at home instead of attending church?  And I think I have a few ideas on the possibilities. 

First off, I think it may be in part due to the culture we live in.  We have evolved into a very fast-paced, microwave-type I need/want/desire immediate satisfaction type of culture.  To think the church is immune to this insanity is, in fact, insane.  Too often people will attend a church, and the very moment they feel less than satisfied, they leave.  The very moment they feel like something they WANT right now isn't happening, they disappear without even saying goodbye.  I would dare say that there are many church-goers that fall into this category.  It would explain why so many Christians have a hard time getting grounded in one church family, and either have duel memberships- or are just regularly looking for "where God wants" them to go and yet never seeming to find it.

I think that this does not just apply to the church hoppers, though.  I would also state that I think it applies to those who sit at home, playing the part of the lone ranger Christian.  I don't know how many I have met and talked to that say things like, "I haven't found a church that meets my needs"; "I haven't found a church that feeds me(spiritually)", or "I find church to be boring, and I get nothing from it".  (Of course, the classic one is when they say how messed up the church that they don't attend- and have probably never been to- is.  I have yet to figure out how they can be so confident that every church is just so bad so they won't go, as though they are punishing someone by sitting at home...)

After pondering this a while, I think the decision I came up with in my mind on this is, wow.  I think I totally get where they are coming from.  After all, scripture plainly teaches that we should not forsake the assembly of the brethren unless the brethren are not giving to us, providing for us, taking care of our every spiritual need, always agreeing with the way we think things should be run, and making sure we are never bored...  Ummm...  Oh, wait a second...  Oh, my bad that is NOT what scripture says...  HAHA, oh I can't believe that I...  Well, here is what it actually says: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."  Hebrews 10:24-25

Well, I am pretty sure that after reading that, we should get one thing clear:  CHURCH IS NOT ABOUT YOU!  It is not about pampering you, pleasing you, etc.  I know that may be a hard pill to swallow, but- what, do you want me to lie to you? 

I know this may be the politically incorrect thing to say, but if the reason you are church hopping, or not attending, has anything to do with the words me myself, and I then you are just NOT getting it.  You are basing your spiritual life on selfish insanity. It may be hard to believe, but we are actually supposed to go to church to serve each other, to pray for each other, to encourage each other.  Your main spiritual growth should be happening in your home as you spend time in your personnal relationship with the Lord.  And, I might add, church hoppers and non-attenders make lousy support systems for other believers.  To put it simply: it's awfully hard to bear one another's burdens if you are never around to know what another's burdens are!

Of course, there is one other reason that came to mind, dealing with these type of Christians.  It is the ever painful, the putrid, disgusting beast known as "I was offended by (insert random name of brother or sister here)". 

Offended.

Well, forgive me for saying this, but...  too bad.  Cry me a river and get over it.  No one wants to hear it; at least, I don't.  NOW before YOU get offended by my apparent lack of compassion on this subject, please understand that said heartlessness does not apply to all who feel this way.  Just the majority.  Allow me to explain...

The reality is, that we are all humans.  As a result of this particular fact, it should be noted that in reality, we all will, at some point or another, suffer offense from another Christian brother or sister who also happens to be human.  You could say it is human nature...  We know that this is a high risk situation, because even Jesus talked about it.  Ironically, He outlined VERY CLEARLY how we are supposed to handle offense in Matthew 18:15-17.  His command(notice I did not say advice, suggestion, or wisdom but COMMAND) was that WHEN a brother offends you you are TO GO to said brother, sit down with them and let them know that there is a problem.  He did not say "Go if you feel like it".  He did not say "Go unless you think there is a better church to attend."  He said GO.  Period.

I think that logic would explain without words why this is:  Because offenses not tended to, lead to hurt, lead to anger, lead to bitterness.  And bitterness never, EVER brings anything good.  So understand as plain as I can get: if you do NOT go to a brother or sister who has offended you and take care of the problem, you WILL- not may, but WILL- eventually be overtaken by bitterness. 

So here is where my lack of compassion comes in to play.  I think, and have seen quite a few times, people leaving a church because someone offended them.  Someone did something that hurt them, hurt their feelings, made them feel bad.  But the problem is- a lot of those people REFUSE to handle the situation the way Jesus COMMANDED it to be handled.  Instead of going to the person, they run away.  In reality, I think a lot of times, the offender doesn't even have a clue that they offended the person!  I will also add here, in case some of you think this way, Jesus did NOT say the offender was to go to the offended.  Just saying that for the record because I know someone will say, "but shouldn't they be responsible to come talk to me?"  To which I will reply, nope.  Sorry.  That is not what Jesus said to do.  (Now if you know you have offended someone it certainly the right thing to go talk to them; however, the responsibility to do it is theirs...)  With all that being said, I guess I would say that I have little compassion for someone who is offended and refuses to handle it biblically.  Jesus never said anything casually, and all His teachings were for a purpose.  He is God, after all.  I am pretty sure He knows what He is talking about.

So there you have it.  My conclusion, whether you agree or disagree, is that many church hoppers and non-attenders really need to look at their motives for their actions...  Because sometimes I really do wonder if they are in the Lord's will or not.  I guess I would end this blog by asking this new question...  Is there really any good reason to not be involved, serving, at a church with your brothers and sisters?  I can't think of any...