Why should I come to your church?
I’ve got a lot of things I could do on Sunday morning.
By “a lot of things” I mean sleep.
The point is, I’m gonna need a reason to go to your church.
At a bare minimum, I want to know what your church teaches.
Some churches put “Mission Statements” on their website.
Like this one:
This mission statement gives you a good idea of what First Church believes.
I agree with every point.
I would visit this church some Sunday morning if it were possible.
But there’s a problem.
This church doesn’t exist.
However, the mission statement is real…
…sort of.
It’s assembled from multiple religious websites.
Cobbled together from different mission statements: Christian, Humanist, Universalist, and Atheist.
Really!
I removed specific religious references and…
…TADA!
A universally acceptable mission statement!
Can you tell which part came from the Christian Church?
Here’s a hint…
…the part that talks about inclusion, acceptance, unity, and love.
Does that help?
No…not at all.
Everybody is pitching inclusiveness.
Heck, even the atheists are fans of “Love”.
Which brings me back to my question.
Why should I come to your church?
Because you’re a caring group of folks who love everybody…?
So are the Humanists.
And Humanists don’t get up early on Sunday morning.
I know Jesus loves me.
I’ve seen the bumper sticker.
What’s not to love?
Jesus has good taste!
If I understand your mission statement, that’s never going to change.
Jesus loves me if I never attend a service.
Jesus loves me if I’m a Humanist.
Jesus loves me if I’m a Universalist
Jesus loves me if I’m an atheist.
And you’re telling me I should join your church because you love me too?
Ha!
You’re gonna have to do better than that.
There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.
Proverbs 12:14
3 Responses
I have no idea why an unbeliever would want to go to church.
If I share the Gospel with someone, and they then become a believer, then I would invite them to church as a place to grow in their faith and fellowship with other believers, and be equipped for ministry.
But I feel disingenuous if I am inviting them to church to cop out of personal evangelism or on the basis of “the music is good”, or “people are cool”, or “your life will be all roses”, or (God forbid), “You can have your best life now and get a Rolls Royce and a mansion.”
Were I particularly shy, I could see myself inviting someone to an evangelistic outreach, but not the Sunday service.
Too many people are treating church like a club you can drop by to see if you want to join, “Come check it out. If you don’t like it, no worries”, as if it were an MLM meeting.
I guess I am “old fashioned” enough to think that if we behave as a church should, the Lord may add to the number of those being saved.
Dave
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) – And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
My goodness John Branyan, I have to say- and I say this as a brother and fellow Christian- I love you.
Every time my email tells me you’ve written something new, my brain prepares for thought candy- but like mental fresh fruit. So enjoyable, and yet so good for me.
Yes, YOU are mental fresh fruit.
I hope in context that sounds like the compliment it is intended to be.
Now I need to send this post to every pastor in a hundred mile radius of my house.
Place your bets now on how many will call you a bully for suggesting that a church have a different mission statement than atheists.
(Also, don’t forget to tell your readers/listeners that they can see you every Saturday till Christmas at https://www.youtube.com/abitoforange).
Did you just say John was mental and a fruit?
😉
Dave