You Should Not Go To Church

I am going to build a little bit on the end of Nathan’s last blogpost, so if you missed it, I invite you to go back and read it.  Towards the end, Nathan draws the analogy of Christians to analog clocks, in that just as analog clocks are represented by continuously variable physical quantities, we are also to be continuously representing Christ in our lives. 

One of the major breakdowns in this representation comes from our understanding of the term church.  Phrases such as “It’s time to go to church”, “I go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays”, “We are going to meet at the church”, or “Where do you go to church?” give rise to the definition of church as a building or place. 

Yet, throughout the New Testament, whenever the term church is used, it never once references a structure.  Rather, the individual is referencing the either the entire collection of saints in the world, or a particular group of saints in a city.  Here are a few of these examples:

“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”  Matthew 18:17

“So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”   Acts 9:31

“To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” 1 Corinthians 1:2

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” Colossians 1:24

I have often used the phrase “I’m going to church” or invited others to “come to church”, as I am sure most of us have.  The question is whether it is wrong or not?  Are we not simply attributing a modern day usage of the term to a structure?  Doesn’t it make things easier calling the building a church as well?  Isn’t it more convenient to say “I’m going to church” rather than “I’m going to the building on 413 Ash St. to worship this morning with the church”?

However, I believe the effects are more damaging than we might realize.

Take for example our modern day use of the word “love”.  The term is often used to describe a middle school relationship,  a stage in life such as college, or even a sandwich.  I made a sandwich the other day and threw part of it out because I was full.  What happens when we stop loving others when we have had enough?  This is not the love of the Bible for sure.

Again, take our modern day approach to marriage.  It is a commitment so long as both parties are enjoying one another.  It is a vow for better and only for the better, not for better or worse.  Contrast that with the biblical view of marriage: a lifelong commitment that God has ordained.  It is a gift so that mankind would not be alone.  When struggles arise, it is a gift to have someone to struggle with (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). 

Similarly, today’s culture has distorted our view of what church should be.  If church is a place we go to, then our church behaviors and actions are limited to that place.  We only have to love and serve while at church, we can swear so long as it is not in church, and while we would never think to show up to church drunk, it is ok to do so outside the church walls.  After all, Jesus will forgive us on Sundays.

Our modern day definition of church has allowed us to compartmentalize our lives so that Jesus is a box we address one or two days out of the week, but does not interfere with the other aspects of our daily habits.  Essentially, we are giving ourselves freedom to sin while opposing our spiritual transformation.

However, if we define church in terms of the body of Christ, then we recognize we are the church everywhere we go.  In this light, we must love others constantly, serve others consistently, and allow God to permeate all areas of our lives.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we become the analog representations of Christ that our Heavenly Father desires us to be. 

We need to be aware that everything we do helps shape and form what others believe about church and about God.  If we do not love others outside of Sundays, then outsiders will believe God loves the same.  If we live like the prodigal son outside of Sundays, then others will learn to live the same.  If children grow up thinking the church is a place they go to, they will be hindered in their understanding of what the church should be, should do, and should look like.

We are the new temple that God chooses to rest inside, therefore let God be proclaimed loudly through our lives. 

Finally, may this past Sunday be the last day you ever go to church.