Do you have times when you just get tired of church? Are there days when you seem to be going and not getting much out of the time you are giving? Perhaps you are too much into church and not enough into the founder. We Baptist are among the world’s worst at keeping busy ‘doing church’ rather than connecting with Jesus and then having fun ‘being’ the church. I often share my favorite poem to make the point;
Mary had a little lamb.
It would have been a sheep.
But it joined a Baptist Church and died from lack of sleep.
We can get so busy being religious that we miss Jesus. In fact, Jesus only mentioned church twice and he established the New Testament church. The Apostle Paul, whose inspired writings serve as much of the doctrine and guidance for the New Testament church never talked about joining the church or going to church. Rather he talked about being “in Christ” or “knowing Christ”.
Stephen Covey shared some interesting thoughts about people who become too centered on church in his popular book '7 Habits of Highly Effective People'. “Having participated throughout my life in organized church and community service group, I have found that attending church does not necessarily mean living the principles taught in those meetings. You can be active in a church but inactive in its gospel. In the church-centered life, image or appearance can become a person’s dominant consideration, leading to hypocrisy that undermines personal security and intrinsic worth. Because the church is a formal organization made up of policies, programs, practices, and people, it cannot by itself give a person any deep, permanent security or sense of intrinsic worth. Living the principles taught by the church can do this, but the organization alone cannot.Nor can the church give a person a constant sense of guidance. Church-centered people often tend to live in compartments, acting and thinking and feeling in certain ways on the Sabbath and in totally different ways on weekdays. Such a lack of wholeness or unity or integrity is a further threat to security, creating the increased labeling and self-justifying. Seeing the church as an end rather than as a means to an end undermines a person’s wisdom and sense of balance. Although the church claims to teach people about the source of power, it does not claim to be that power itself. It claims to be one vehicle through which divine power can be channeled into man’s nature.”
What I think Covey is saying in a wordy fashion (it is hard to sell books and get big bucks as a high powered lecturer if you sound simple) is basically this; a church centered life can lead to hypocrisy (putting on an act), insecurity, and low self esteem. That is one reason we see such behavior so often in long time church members who may even be leaders. The church, in itself, cannot lead to the life-changing behavior we need and actually seek. While church, as the corporate body of Christ, is and should be a major factor in our relationship and growth in our walk and pilgrimage with Him, it is not the end of itself. So if you are tired of church you may not need to 'drop out' you simply may need to 'hang out' with the founder.
As usual He, the founder of the church, says it best and I really like the way Jesus said it in Matthew 11:28-30 as shared in The Message; "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
