The Church Is Still Open For Business

Only 243 days left until Christmas! Sadly, that is how long it might be until we see some people in our churches again now that Easter Sunday is past. Even though we often remind people that our churches are “open for business” between Easter and Christmas, too many don’t really seem to care. For a growing number of people, being genuinely committed to a church family is not a priority in life.

Recent survey statistics by the Barna Group reveal that 51% of American adults say that church attendance is not important to them. Among those 30 years old and younger, only 20% believe it is important in their lives. In other words, more and more people are leaving our churches behind. Even among the people who say that church attendance is important to them, more are attending less often.

There are many reasons for people choosing to leave or ignore the church. Some say it is irrelevant to their daily lives. Others feel they can still pursue some kind of spiritual life or be close to God without a church commitment. Regardless of the reasons, this major shift in our country is having a profound impact on our culture and morality as well as religion. We are becoming a secular nation.

However, those of us who claim to be Christians should be more and more committed to the church of Jesus Christ, including our local churches. We should remember the commitment of the Lord Jesus Christ when he said, “I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” That is how important Jesus’ church is to him. Not even the power of Hell itself will stop him from building it.

The Bible also reminds us that the church is “God’s household.” It is called “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” The Scriptures tell us that “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” And followers of Jesus are encouraged to never stop meeting with their local church family. Once again God’s Word says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day (of Christ’s return) approaching.”

No matter what others choose to do, we should embrace the wise words of Rick Warren in his popular book, The Purpose Driven Life. Warren wrote to Christians: “You are called to belong, not just to believe. We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God’s purposes by ourselves. The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits isolated from other believers and deprived of fellowship…While your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private. In God’s family you are connected to every other believer, and we will belong to each other for eternity.”

So why don’t you make it two weeks in a row. See you in church again this Sunday!