FEBRUARY 2017 SPARE CHANGE
Is going to church necessary? You would probably expect me, as a pastor, to say, “Yes!” In reality, I would say, “It depends.” It depends on how you view church. Do you think of it as simply a place to come once a week to get your spiritual cup filled— you just want to get in and get out as quickly as possible? Do you view it as a community, or better yet, a family?
Recently, I read an article that stated those born before 1985 are the last generation that knew life before the internet. I was born in 1980 and certainly remember life before, which makes me think, “How did we do things before the internet?” From getting directions to sending an email, the internet has made things so much easier. It has given us a level of connection that before was unimaginable. We used to have to call people at home and hope they were there to receive the call. Now, we send them a chat or a snap or a tweet or all the above. We used to write letters and mail them. Now, we can instantly communicate with email or social media.
We are more connected than ever, but is it a real and genuine connection? With social media we control the information that people see. We craft our image so people see the good parts of life. We post, chat, like, comment; however, I would argue that is only the surface of what a real meaningful connection looks like. If we are not careful, church can be just like social media— we get up on Sunday morning and put on our clothes, we fix our hair, we dress the kids and we present ourselves as a family that has it all together. Meanwhile, no one knows about the fight you had with your spouse on the way to church or the names the kids were calling each other before you loaded them into the van. The point is, just attending church does not give us a deep and meaningful connection with the Body of Christ.
Church is meant to be much more. It is meant to be a family. We are meant to invest in each other and to care for one another. If someone is hurting they are to be honest about it and receive help, encouragement, and prayer. If someone is struggling in sin they are to receive admonishment and accountability. If someone is celebrating a joyous occasion the body is supposed to jump in and praise God alongside them. Think of how a family is supposed to operate. One that is loving, caring, and helpful. Of course, families don’t always get along, but they work through their differences toward deeper understanding and connection. This is the type of connection that is presented in the scriptures. This is certainly the idea that the Early Church had in Acts 2:42-47. Many were ostracized for their faith, some lost their jobs, lost their land, they had to turn to one another for help and support. They truly were a family.
The church today should be a family. Now, I realize it is hard to get to know all the people that attend Oakhill. But a good place to start is in a small group. I know it may sound cliché, but I truly don’t know what I would do without the support of my small group family. I can go to them anytime with a prayer request and I know they are lifting it up. I can count on them to be there with me in the good times and the bad.
Church should not be a once a week, get in, get out stop. You don’t need a church like that. You need a church that is a family. It should be a place where you invest your life in others and they invest in you. That is a church that is necessary for believers to be a part of. Oakhill is not perfect and we have some growing to do in this area, but one way you can help is to join a small group and get connected like you never have before.