Being the Church, Not Just Going There

Our Wednseday night class got me thinking last night and today about our motivation for attending a church. I think a lot of us have missed the point/purpose of a church family. I think many people attend for their benefit and their benefit alone, getting their tickets punched and going home. That's not what it is about. I think I was hit in the head last night with the fact that God created the church so that we could benefit spiritually from each other. That means that when I wake up on Sunday mornings or attend Sunday night or Wednesday or whenever we get together I must put something into, not only going to see what I can get out of it. God intends for us all to put something into a church family, because we will get more out of it by putting into it. Then, not only our we benefiting from it ourselves but we know that others will benefit from it as well. It's all about service.

We are not being Christ-like when we have a self centered view of Christianity. How can I become a better christian, What can I alone get out of it. God is very ironic a lot of times, to gain we must give, but we do not give looking only to gain, but we give because we care about our brothers and sisters in Christ, just as Christ gave his life and served us, because he cared deeply about us, wanting us to know his love. God never intended for Christianity to be an individual thing, but he intended for us to have an open, servant attitude, sharing the love he has poured into our hearts to everyone we come in contact with.

This kind of attitude pours over into our home/work lives, because we must also carry that same attitude towards those we work with or come in contact with in general. How else can the lost see what a church family is about, who Jesus is, unless we show them that we care for them, and are willing to serve them in anyway. People were drawn to Jesus because of his deep compassion for people no matter what kind of lives they lived. They were intrigued that this man who talked about a place of rest free from death, murder, lying, and all other sin, would sit down and eat with the ones who were as deep into those things as anyone. Christianity is an outward expression of worship to a God who wants everyone to come to a knowledge of him. It's not something only expressed within the confines of a church building or only at home with your family. It needs to be expressed among those that believe they shouldn't come within 100 yards of a church because of the way they have lived.

Let's take the church to them, by being the hands and feet of Jesus, meeting their needs no matter who they are or what kind of past they have, or else they may never know what church is like. People will see Jesus clearer if they can see how he works instead of only hearing about it.

Have a great Thursday!