“MY GOD, I HATE CHURCH!”
“I love Jesus but I don’t like the people in church. It’s full of hypocrites. That’s why I don’t go to church. I can worship God on my own anyway.”
This is often the gist of why professing believers do not go to church. Let us break it into digestible pieces to see what they are actually saying.
“I love Jesus but I don’t like the people in the church.”
When we say we don’t like church, we are telling Christ that we hate what He loves the most---the Church, His bride.
We all have that friend who is in a relationship with someone we don’t like. Sometimes we keep that to ourselves as we do not wish to offend. And then sometimes, we do share our sentiments but we are careful when doing so. But when we receive a wedding invitation, we still go to show our love and support. If we can overcome our personal feelings and do that with our friends, why can’t we do the same for our Lord Jesus Christ?
“It’s full of hypocrites.”
Still using the same analogy, our friend might indeed be in a relationship with the worst person in the world but again, rarely do we find ourselves as blunt to him/her as we are to God. We don’t tell our friend all that is wrong with his/her partner and even if we do, we might do it once, never mention it again, and pray that all will still be well with the friendship. Try repeating it over and over why we hate the partner, try posting on social media all that we find faulty with him/her, and try influencing other people to feel the same way and see if the friendship survives. Most of us won’t be as drastic and offensive to commit these things but we are not as circumspect when it comes to our distaste for the Church.
When we do accuse the Church of being filled with hypocrites, unfortunately, we are telling a kernel of truth as the Bible itself guarantees their membership. The parable of the wheat and tares warns us about it so this should not surprise us. If you would just attend, you would know that and more importantly, know how to handle it.
“That’s why I don’t go to church.”
Usually, when one uses hypocrisy as a reason for non-church involvement, it can only fall into two categories: it’s true or it’s not.
When it’s not, it’s just a convenient excuse but when it’s true, chances are, something happened in the past. Perhaps we did encounter a hypocrite but we must remember that that person is not the Church. S/he must not get in the way of your spiritual growth and relationship with Christ. There are other people who are genuine in their faith who can help you, mentor you, and be your friend. Why risk missing up on that because of that one person?
And let’s say there was more than one person who made you stumble, then go find another church. We don’t give up eating at a restaurant entirely just because we had a bad service experience at another. We don’t give up commuting just because the MRT broke down. We don’t give up making friends just because one turned out to be a fiend. So why give up on the most important thing in life which has a bearing on the afterlife because of one person or church (small letter “c”)?
“I can worship God on my own anyway.”
Yes you can but how long will you last? And who will teach you? Who will pray with you? Who will visit you when you are sick? Who will encourage you? And more importantly, whom will you teach, pray for, and encourage when you are the only member of the Lone Ranger Fellowship which has no biblical basis at all? Worshipping God is not just about you; it’s also about other people.
Hebrews 10:24-25 say, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Did you catch the words: us, we, one another, together, and one another?
If we are really sincere in wanting to worship God, we will not ignore one of the basics of Christian life. Pray that He will lead you to a church that will help you love God more and make you forgive those who have hurt you. Who knows? You might be the vessel God will use to make them turn around and say, “My God, I love Church!”
“I love Jesus but I don’t like the people in church. It’s full of hypocrites. That’s why I don’t go to church. I can worship God on my own anyway.”
This is often the gist of why professing believers do not go to church. Let us break it into digestible pieces to see what they are actually saying.
“I love Jesus but I don’t like the people in the church.”
When we say we don’t like church, we are telling Christ that we hate what He loves the most---the Church, His bride.
We all have that friend who is in a relationship with someone we don’t like. Sometimes we keep that to ourselves as we do not wish to offend. And then sometimes, we do share our sentiments but we are careful when doing so. But when we receive a wedding invitation, we still go to show our love and support. If we can overcome our personal feelings and do that with our friends, why can’t we do the same for our Lord Jesus Christ?
“It’s full of hypocrites.”
Still using the same analogy, our friend might indeed be in a relationship with the worst person in the world but again, rarely do we find ourselves as blunt to him/her as we are to God. We don’t tell our friend all that is wrong with his/her partner and even if we do, we might do it once, never mention it again, and pray that all will still be well with the friendship. Try repeating it over and over why we hate the partner, try posting on social media all that we find faulty with him/her, and try influencing other people to feel the same way and see if the friendship survives. Most of us won’t be as drastic and offensive to commit these things but we are not as circumspect when it comes to our distaste for the Church.
When we do accuse the Church of being filled with hypocrites, unfortunately, we are telling a kernel of truth as the Bible itself guarantees their membership. The parable of the wheat and tares warns us about it so this should not surprise us. If you would just attend, you would know that and more importantly, know how to handle it.
“That’s why I don’t go to church.”
Usually, when one uses hypocrisy as a reason for non-church involvement, it can only fall into two categories: it’s true or it’s not.
When it’s not, it’s just a convenient excuse but when it’s true, chances are, something happened in the past. Perhaps we did encounter a hypocrite but we must remember that that person is not the Church. S/he must not get in the way of your spiritual growth and relationship with Christ. There are other people who are genuine in their faith who can help you, mentor you, and be your friend. Why risk missing up on that because of that one person?
And let’s say there was more than one person who made you stumble, then go find another church. We don’t give up eating at a restaurant entirely just because we had a bad service experience at another. We don’t give up commuting just because the MRT broke down. We don’t give up making friends just because one turned out to be a fiend. So why give up on the most important thing in life which has a bearing on the afterlife because of one person or church (small letter “c”)?
“I can worship God on my own anyway.”
Yes you can but how long will you last? And who will teach you? Who will pray with you? Who will visit you when you are sick? Who will encourage you? And more importantly, whom will you teach, pray for, and encourage when you are the only member of the Lone Ranger Fellowship which has no biblical basis at all? Worshipping God is not just about you; it’s also about other people.
Hebrews 10:24-25 say, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Did you catch the words: us, we, one another, together, and one another?
If we are really sincere in wanting to worship God, we will not ignore one of the basics of Christian life. Pray that He will lead you to a church that will help you love God more and make you forgive those who have hurt you. Who knows? You might be the vessel God will use to make them turn around and say, “My God, I love Church!”