My church

I'm realising recently that I take great pride in my church. Being a part of my church, plays more than a significant role in my Christian walk.

It's when others complain, or express their disinterest in my church that I get relatively upset, and go inward - although I have pride, my peacemaker instincts are more prevalent in my character.

Last night at home group, certain persons were complaining about the generic nature of worship song lyrics, the 'put-on' friendliness that doesn't go further than a Sunday morning, and their lack of interest in inappropriate sermons. They suggested - why don't they do this, they need to do that etc.

I didn't want to step in - I care for them, but don't want to clumsily tread on their brittle bones pushing them away from the church and God altogether. However, if I was to chime in, I would have suggested: Hey why don't you come and help out down at kids church. We need helpers, and I worship God most when I'm acting in faith through service.

I guess the deal with church is that you're not there to receive and to be entertained. In fact you're there to give and that is worship.

The church, is not a building, it's a people. It's a people that are your family. And a healthy family care, share, serve and pray for one another. I've been finding out recently that a family breaks down if those things aren't taken up by each member. The church family is just as or even more important than our biological family. I don't know if Jesus was talking about the church or not in this passage following, but to me it sounds like it.
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 12v 46-50.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that to really feel a part of a church, you yourself have to be committed to it. You have to care, and share, and serve and pray for others (rather simply expecting others to do that for you).

When you see people in the church who are slaving away over things that seem so menial week in, week out, you start to get an appreciation for your church family. It gets hard to say - oh church was boring on Sunday, when you know that Ole' Nevil has put out 60 Bibles into the rows, and has done that for the past year, and 'Sally Gooden' has been doing harvest work and bringing new families into the church who have broken backgrounds, and 'Sam Tito' has been occupying the old peoples group once a week even when he has distressing things happening at home.

When you are just another one of those people serving, and getting close to God through your church you realise what goes into the SUNDAY SERVICE. Church is more than a Sunday. But don't expect to get things from the church outside of Sunday, if you're not prepared to put in the work either. Churches, just like families involve commitments from all its members.