Issue 1591 – Empty Church – November 2, 2024
This abandoned old church is in the near-ghost town of Dorothy, Alberta. I say near ghost town because about ten people live in this badlands hamlet southeast of Brooks. At least there were, many years ago when we drove through.
There are two church buildings there, both long out of service. I don’t recall which denomination this building was; it is possibly the United Church.
It always saddens me when I see a former church building sitting derelict. I understand when a town dies and there is no longer a population to serve, a church can sit empty. Sadly, many churches sit disused where there is still a population to serve.
I understand that the church is the body of believers, not the building they meet in. Still, when I speak of the church this morning, I talk about the gathered body, typically in a building.
I recall a coffee shop conversation with a man who claimed to be a Christian. He was pretty proud of his lack of church attendance.
He told me, “I don’t need to go to church. I know Jesus, and that’s all that matters.” He continued, “The churches around here just aren’t right for me.”
Ultimately, knowing Jesus is what matters. Yet, we are to attend worship with other believers. For those in isolated areas or where it’s unsafe to worship, that might not be an option, but there is no excuse for most people who read Gleanings.
Lots of people have plenty of excuses not to attend. Here’s a partial list. I’m sure you’ve heard and even uttered some of them.
The preaching is boring.
The preacher preaches too much/little from the Bible; is too academic/not academic enough; preaches too long/not long enough.
The music is too fast/slow/loud/old/new.
They are too formal/informal.
The people are too friendly/unfriendly.
They have/don’t have pews/organs/stained glass/pastoral robes.
The service is too long/short, too demonstrative/not demonstrative enough.
There is too much/not enough emphasis on the Holy Spirit.
They do/don’t ordain women.
They are too active/not active enough in outreach/missions/politics/social action.
They talk too much about money/there isn’t enough emphasis on stewardship.
Services times are too early/too late.
The pastor is too young/old.
The congregation is too big/small.
I know more than that pastor and team of elders.
They don’t use my favorite translation of the Bible. It is the only authentic translation.
Have I hit a nerve yet? Have I stepped on your sacred cow? It’s time to recognize that these excuses hurt you and the local congregation.
Every single congregation that exists will have some flaws. It is filled with flawed people like you and me.
Why attend worship?
Some surveys I’ve read show that more than 90% of professing Christians attend church regularly because a given church meets that individual’s or family’s needs. Did you know that’s the wrong reason to attend church?
First and foremost, the church is not about you. Did you know that? The church isn’t about going and feeling good or about having your needs met. Those things can and do happen but aren’t the reason we go. We go to glorify God and minister to others.
God designed the church as an organism for that purpose. We are all tied together.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it so that there should be no division in the body but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 1 Corinthians 12:14-26
When you don’t attend and take an active role, someone else in the body suffers for your absence. That someone might need your ministry. Conversely, that person might be deprived of their ministry to you.
Not attending is a very selfish act. The whole body suffers when parts don’t show up to do their bit.
Can you get to heaven without going to church? Yes! Salvation is by grace and not measured by how often we go. Will the body of Christ be poorer for your absence? Yes! Will you miss out big time? Absolutely.
Until next time, quit making excuses. If you are not already going, it is time to actively participate in a local congregation.
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
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Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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