Why Don't I Like to Go to Church?

For a minister, this is a very interesting question. Today is Sunday and I just told my wife there were four things I wanted to do today. Going to church was not on the list. I am sure that I am not alone in this feeling and attitude. Probably, there is a large percentage of Christians who feel the same way. Each of us have our own reasons, but I want to just consider a few of my own.

One reason I feel this way is that I don't understand the language with which the minister communicates the sermon. In my case the language is Polish, but in many people's case the minister is speaking a foreign language called "religious rhetoric." We should stand back sometime and listen to ourselves speak around other Christians. We have our own language. Ministers tend to speak about things in a world all of their own. Hopefully, ministers are living lives that bespeak of close communion with God, of a personal relationship where their thoughts are on a plane much higher that those who are "not of the cloth." They have attended Bible school and seminary, read three Christian books a week, listen only to Christian music and watch only Christian television and never, ever enter those places of questionable reputation. Sometimes they forget that those to whom they speak are not quite there yet, and so they (or should I say we) forget to tie in those spiritual thoughts they have with practical application. So, those of us who find ourselves dragged off to church by our wives to keep peace in the family sometimes have to endure the boredom of a non relevant sermon for one more week, hoping she will want to visit her mother next weekend.

I don't think Jesus had the same problems with his "congregations." From what I read, he couldn't get away from the people. He never had trouble drawing a crowd even though sometimes the crowd wanted to lynch him. He had a way of getting right to the crux of the situation. He didn't mince words. I think that sometimes a minister's desire not to offend anyone makes what he has to say very bland. In fact, often I come away from church wondering what in the heck was he trying to say! Listeners to Jesus sometimes didn't understand the parables he used, but they sure knew what Jesus believed. He was boldly forthright!

Jesus' sermons were also very interesting and practical. Give me practical any day. I need to hear something that I can use the next week. It is a war out there and I need a strategy for dealing with it all. I also want to know that what I am hearing is based on truth. I need to have confidence in that man, or woman, standing up there. I can more easily trust that person if I know that during the previous week he has been in the same trenches where I live. That is one thing that I love about Joyce Meyer. You can tell from listening to her that she is speaking from experience. Give me a minister that is real for goodness sake.

I know that you think I am preaching but let me finish with one more thought. I want to go to a church where there is life. I want to feel that my church is on the gridiron and not on the bench. As a minister I have been tempted many times not to push the envelope while preaching because I actually didn't believe anyone would rise to the challenge anyhow. Everyone likes to be part of something that is successful, that is accomplishing things, that is relevant. To be relevant you have to be out there in the trenches "doing the stuff," as John Wimber used to say.

So, with having said all of this (before church today), I am glad to report that the minister this morning gave a very thought provoking relevant message. In fact, I think he must have heard my last sermon.