Being... Not Doing...

There are two questions that are commonly asked regarding worship / church attendance:

1) Why should people go to church or attend services?

2) Why do people choose not to attend church services?

But let me ask a third, more important question: What should I NOT do when I attend services?

You see, I could give you a lengthy list of the benefits of attending worship, which covers the first question.  And I could also give you plenty of reasons why people don't attend services today - the church has done a lot wrong over the years, which in turn, causes people to see Her blemishes & flaws and keeps them away (which answers the second question).  But that's not my intention with this post...

I want to consider another idea: when people attend services with a heart not ready and prepared to worship...

When Christians get caught up in "DOING" instead of just "BEING" - well, something gets radically wrong.  Still not following me?  Allow me to elaborate...

- The person who shows up, and the first thing they do when they walk through the door is COMPLAIN.  They automatically see something wrong...  An item is out of place; the temperature isn't right; something got moved on a table or to another table in close proximity.  They get caught up on their weekly gossip.  (Stuff like this, which causes me to scratch my head and wonder how in the world THIS was the first thing they thought of...  Also knowing there was no way they came prayerfully prepared for what Sunday is all about).

- The person who shows up, and the first thing they do when they walk through door is WORK.  They don't take time to see the people walking close by - they've got something to get done, and no time to waste. There are TASKS to be done & jobs to do, and to the person with this mindset, tasks always trump relationships.  They see something that needs fixed or finalized, and they immediately get to work...

- The person who shows up, and the first thing they do when they walk through the door is WITHDRAW.  They never really smile much...  They go immediately to their seat...surrounded by people, yet totally unaware of them.  They don't realize that a smile conveys a natural love, a face that reveals a philosophy of Christian kindness...  Oh, I suppose you have to give them credit: they did show up, and I guess that should count for something in the "big attendance book in the sky" - but the problem is PERCEPTION: they don't understand that we are known (says John 13:35) by our LOVE.  Love doesn't just take a bulletin and a seat, and sits silently in isolation.  Love calls for warmth, fellowship, and a countenance of joy.  Sure, we're not always "happy" - even on Sunday mornings.  But it's not always about me, and if I withdraw from people, even when I'm surrounded by them, what does this say about my concept of "loving one another that reveals my love for God"? (See Mark 12:28-33).

- The person who shows up, and the first thing they do when they walk through the door is WORSHIP.  This is the person who understands that ALL of life is worship.  They understand that true worship is NOT contained to a (preferred) style of music or inside of a building topped with a steeple.  They've latched onto what Paul wrote in Romans 12:1-3: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — His good, pleasing and perfect will.  For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."


Do you see what he's saying?  EVERYTHING we do in life is worship...  When I offer my BODY as a "living sacrifice" I don't view Sunday as a list of tasks, complaints, or seclusion and avoidance (simply tolerating people).  I view Sunday as a natural extension of everything I am in life: a Christ-follower saved by grace, who lives in grace, and offers grace.  My first thought is grace, not pace...

How about this: when you show up for the assembly this Sunday, try living out this:

"Be still, and know that I am God..." - Psalm 46:10a

"Come near to God and he will come near to you." - James 4:8a

Be still...  Come near to Him...  Meaning: just SOAK HIM UP...  Don't get caught up in anything else but being in the presence of God, and letting His love flow in every thought and deed...  Yes, there are things that have to be done on Sundays...I fully understand that.  But let's not get caught up in doing...let's just get caught up in being...

Mike