There was a day when I thought all people just attended church. Must have been when I was younger.
Of course, there were the bad kids. They wouldn’t go to church because they were so bad.
Now I’ve grown up. It’s not just bad kids who don’t go to church!
For a number of reasons, the institution of the church has hurt and disillusioned a number of Christians. Not that they don’t recognize a need to be with other like minded people. But they are afraid of the hurt that comes when they get invovled in a large group of people.
A small group, a house church, even a coffee klatch, is acceptable for Christian fellowship. In fact, they will get involved with people who are involved in a church at any other time than during the “regular church service” time. They will eat with, fellowship with, work with, serve with, and even minister with them. But the church service time seems to hold them back.
OK, for some it is just a matter of stubbornness or laziness. For others, though, there is a very tangible history that has invaded their reality. I’ve been looking this over for the last few years.
So, here is where your comments would be helpful (as they have been in the past!). How can a church change — what does a church need to change — in order to welcome back those who have been dechurched?
I have noticed in the Catholic Church, that they seem to have an open door, where people can go in and pray any time of the day. They don’t dress up and pretend anything , but just go because of their need to worship or repent, or whatever. The older generation in many ways, are the place to start. Undo the pretensions of the past.
It was love that drew me back to fellowshipping with others – and it was little by little
One of the biggest things that I had to personally learn was that while people are the church, situations and circumstances are not the whole church. As children, we spat, differ in opinions, grow at different rates and are made for different purposes. We see through the filtered lens of past experiences instead of through the eyes of Christ. Learning that has made a huge difference in my expectations and love for the church and the fellowship of God’s children. Learning to appreciate the differences, to seek the ultimate goal of growing together to become more like Christ, and the acceptance of the variances along the way are some of my persoanl keys to the command to belong.
AS I scan a group of believers I now see the beauty of the melting pot that can become a reflection of Christ.
Teaching is often the strongest ingredient in healing.
M