This phrase should be eliminated from my vocabulary. I know this may seem like an extreme action towards what could seem like such an innocent little phrase. I mean how many times have I said it myself and with no real thought to what I am saying. But honestly how twisted have we made our concept of church. In our culture you "go" to church instead "be" the church and this misconception is making us a joke. The mindset Consumerism has forced or seduced (i'm not sure which one) us into making church a competitive sport. Who can put together the best band with the best song list paired with some nifty audio/visual bit to tug on people's heart strings followed by the most charismatic, entertaining speaker we can find. Because as we all know without a gifted communicator there really is no hope having a "big church" followed by that big tithe. I'm not saying that services done at high level are a bad thing, but when that becomes where the resources of the church are spent that is a problem. When a group of believers are spending millions of dollars and thousands of hours making their buildings comfortable and their auditoriums perfect we have missed the calling of what it means to be the church. Don't get me wrong, I think musicians should play and play well, to lead us in a musical form of worship. Teachers should teach and teach well, helping us discern the Word of God and how it applies to us. But when we are gearing everything we do at worship service to draw in more people, something is off. When we are depending on a service to meet needs instead of ourselves, something is off. When most church "go-ers" spend more time complaining about the volume level of the music, song selection, children's ministry, or sermon than they do feeding the homeless and taking care of orphans, something is off. When church leaders treat their church community as their own personal empire, something is off. When the church body is dependent on their church leader in order to grow in Christ, something is off.
I know my complaining and bit of ranting about issues I see in the church makes me no different than those I have issue with. I just know that Christ did not live the life He did, die the death He did, and come back to life for His followers to congregate in our comfortable buildings, nitpicking about nonsense. He invites is into a life where we lay it all down so others can experience Him. He invites into a life where we participate in the restoration of creation, to life where we love each other so fiercely that the lost and hurting are drawn to us. I simply suggest that being a follower of Christ requires to do just that follow, not sit, not complain, but get up and follow Him.
In no way am I naive enough to think what I am saying is easy, it will be difficult, but it will be worth it. We will get hurt, but He will heal our hearts. It will be uncomfortable, but we will not be bored. So I ask, if you are a Christian, are you following or sitting?
PS.
If following Christ leads you to participate in a community of believers that gathers together and enjoys a high level service, I think that's great, just please don't get caught up being an observer instead of a follower of Christ.
