Vol 4 No 8 - "I Know I Need to be in Church..."

As I started to 'work the room' at the funeral home this past Sunday before my friend's service in Lake Charles, I was reminded of a recurring conversation that I have with more than a few people on a regular basis.  The conversation that goes along the lines of, "Hey preacher, I know that I haven't been in church in a while, and that I really need to get back to it, and I'm sorry I haven't been there like I should, and I'll do better."  What's amusing about this is that I RARELY initiate this discussion; usually it's people's default reaction when they see the preacher out and about.

This came to mind last Sunday because as Erin and I settled into our seats, the people sitting on the other side of Erin asked who she was, and upon finding out her name, knew that I was the Oliver boy whose family had sat in the balcony with them when I was a child.  We got to catching up, and I was struck by how much we learn about each other just through the rhythm of attending worship together each week.  Bonds are formed when we worship as a community week after week, month after month, year after year.  Bonds that last for a lifetime.

When people engage me in the conversation that starts with, "I know I need to be in church...", I cringe.  Not because of anything relating to me, but out of sadness.  Sadness because the point is not to be in worship to make the preacher happy.  Sadness because the point of worship is not to make numbers look good.  Rather, its sadness because of what all is being missed when we "just don't make it to worship this week."  

It's hard to see in the short-term, but over the long haul a community of faith is formed, the body of Christ nurtured, and life-transforming relationship build.  We we deny ourselves the regular worship of the community of faith, it is primarily detrimental to the spiritual formation of the one who is taking a pass.

I'm so glad I was in worship every week as a child, and that it was important in the life of my family.  Even if I had no idea at the time that relationships that were being build there would be so important 20+ years down the road.  My hope and prayer for each of you is that you are developing similar relationships that you can draw upon much later. 

See You Soon!

Lamar