This past Easter I asked a simple question to a crowded church:
Why are you here?
It is a fair question to ask people at church. Do you come at Easter to be right with God because that is what you were taught growing up? Then you make sure that you’re right with God with a follow-up Christmas visit to church. Isn’t it funny (in the sad sense) that people actually believe that. I reminded those in attendance that day that their church attendance did not make them righteous before God. That only the blood of Christ could make them righteous. Isn’t it interesting that church is cultural to most and only holy to a few? And that cultural Christianity, no matter what culture, is taught as salvific?
Why are you here?
The next Sunday I asked the same question to a less crowded church. I had asked the question to myself the night before. It is a simple question for pastors and church members. Are we there to truly worship The Lord or something else? Do we just go through the motions week after week, year after year, chasing our tails to no end? Do we look to programs, people, associations, denominations, the latest Christian fad, the hottest new “worship song”, etc., to enhance our church experience? Have we stopped doing the simple Scriptural commands:
Because these are not enough? Again, why are you here? If your church building burned down today would you still show up on Sunday to worship The Lord? Would we devote ourselves to the teaching of The Word, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayer? Do we do that now? Is Acts 2:42-47 enough or do we need more? Do we need our ego’s stroked, our agendas met, our way of doing church validated and fulfilled…
Again… Why are you here?
This is not about condemnation but to get you to honestly ask yourself why you attend church. I have been witness to people coming to church just to attack the pastor and to cause division - side note: if you want to see your church’s spiritual health attend the next business meeting with some sort of impeding vote. You’d be very surprised at how “godly” the meeting will be. And yes, I used a little ‘g’ for a reason.
Again… Why are you here?
When you show up to church this Sunday morning whether as pastor or church member will it be to glorify God or yourself?
There is no room for both.