Less Church Could Be Beneficial (WARNING: This is intense)

This is perhaps the most difficult post I've ever made because it confesses publicly much of what I've had to confess privately to God over the last two years. I'm sharing it not to boast in myself, but to challenge you to be who Jesus truly wants you to be.

Until two years ago, I was constantly in church. By this, I mean I was actively involved in the activities that took place at the church building. I was consistently there Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, and any other time something was going on. I was an avid churchgoer and even worked hard to get others to go to church with me.

As my life progressed, I met Jennifer, we got married, moved off to a new city, and we had to find a church to go to, which we did. Then, as I had always done, we sold out to the church... We were there for every service, every activity, and willing to invite others to come with us. I even became convinced that I could reach more people for Jesus if I pulled myself out of the normal rhythms of life and became a full-time church employee. God then allowed for this to happen. I had a full-time job working at a church, and I was now the one providing the leadership and activities for people to come, participate, and sell out to.

Before I say anything else, let me say that I'm so thankful for my past experiences. Without them, God wouldn't be moving in my life the way He is now. Nevertheless, I must be brutally honest about how God is now moving in my life...

Here's the ugly part of my church-going days and the truth I'm willing to say that most avid church-goers won't... I was a much better church-goer than I was a biblical disciple of Jesus. Honestly, being an avid church-goer was much easier than what I'm currently experiencing... easier, but not better. Let me explain.

Jesus never told me or you to go to church. He never told us to sell out to the church, be actively involved in all the services, bible studies, and activities of the church. You may ask, "Doesn't the Bible say we shouldn't forsake the assembling of ourselves together?" Yes. It does: Hebrews 10:24-25. However, the church as we've come to know it (generally speaking) is not what we're told to not forsake.

If you really want to look at this verse, it tells us what should be happening in these meetings... People encouraging one another to follow Jesus... We see this all throughout the book of Acts... People interacting with people through teaching, prayer, meeting needs, etc.

Where in Scripture do we see church described as an impersonal, mostly non-relational setting, where a few "expert professionals" spend a majority of their efforts preparing, organizing, and leading services so that the other 80-90% of people can merely consume what's being provided? Most pastors wouldn't say this because they depend on this model of church for their paycheck. I can say this because I was one of those people pushing the church agenda. I didn't realize my own selfish motives and insecurities until God exposed how many of my decisions were rooted in things other than making disciples.

Now, sermons, music, ministries, programs and some of the things we've come accustomed to aren't necessarily wrong. To some degree they can be important and helpful, but that isn't what the Bible defines as church. Our denominations and life-experiences may teach us that this is church, but Jesus doesn't. He actually says things like... Matthew 7:21-23 and Matthew 9:13. In these verses Jesus is basically saying, "I realize you did your church activities, but I never knew you personally as my disciple.

The real issue at hand is that most southern "Christians" identify more with their church than they do with Jesus. This is a major problem. Do you know what it means to follow Jesus? Can you describe what a surrendered life to Jesus looks like in terms other than being actively involved in the services and activities your church provides? Do you know how to talk to someone about Jesus without having to invite them to your church?

Why am I saying all of this? Because I reached a point where God was saying all of this to me. He was convicting me about my adherence to the church and my lack of surrender to His Spirit in my life on a daily basis. I was more focused on getting people to church than I was leading them to Jesus.

Due to the type of "church" God led us to start two years, we've had to die to the current modes of church and become much more focused on teaching people to follow Jesus throughout the rhythms of life instead of having multiple services each week, programs, and ministries for people to attend. We didn't fully get this at first, but we're making great strides now. As a result, we do one organized "church" gathering a week, where we're trying to encourage and train people to live out their faith, build relationships, and listen to the Spirit throughout the rhythms of their life. We hope their identity is found in Jesus not our church. During this time, some have said they need more church activities and have moved on. Some of this may have been our fault for not initially focusing enough on relationships and discipleship, but we haven't forced the issue with them and have graciously received their decision. For those who are experiencing Jesus with us, God's genuinely teaching us what it means to be a disciple, not a church-goer.

I wasn't a good disciple (according to how Jesus describes it), and I didn't even know how to be one when my life was consumed by "church" stuff. I'm far from having this figured out, but I'm much closer to Jesus now than I was a couple years ago even though I do far less "church" stuff. In the end, I can only blame myself for not previously taking the time to read Scripture and come to know Jesus apart from the filter of church-culture I had come to know.

As I wrap this up, I'm assuming you are thinking one of a few things...

-This makes so much sense... If this is you, what are you going to do about it? Don't just agree with what I've said. Get on your knees before God, repent, and ask Him to move you in the directed HE wants. That's what I did, and I'm growing from it and leading my family much better!

-I'm heavily involved in my church, and I follow Jesus... Good! I am too. Let's hold each other accountable that we don't elevate our church involvement over following Jesus daily. Let's make sure we're sharing our faith with people who don't yet know Jesus and not merely hanging out as a Christian social club.

-This is ridiculous... If this is you, please just ensure your opinions are not based on your preferences or what you've come to know through your church, pastor, or denomination. Instead, ensure you're opinions are supported with a systematic overview of Scripture centered on Jesus as Lord.