Stephanie grew up going to church but it wasn’t a pleasant experience. She went to college and drifted away from anything having to do with church. More and more, she grows disillusioned, and never wants to come back. Stephanie believes you don’t have to go to church to be close to God.
Rich attends church once a month, gets his dose of God, and then puts God on the shelf while he goes to work, takes care of all life’s worries, and has fun with his friends. He has compartmentalized Jesus in his life to be someone he visits for semi-regular check ups like his dentist.
Stephanie and Rich don’t fit the typical definition of active church members. And they’re part of a growing crowd.
Neither of them wants to get too close or involved in church. They have other important activities and good friends. Besides, Stephanie figures why go back to a place that has hurt her? Rich honestly thinks the church is irrelevant to his needs (he says he needs help making it to Friday, not just making it to heaven).
Who do you blame here? Stephanie and Rich for their misguided expectations? Their churches for not doing a better job? Both?
Then, one day, Stephanie and Rich meet, start dating and decide to get married. Where? Well, Rich’s church! He feels embarrassed. He barely knows the pastor, who probably doesn’t know him at all. Maybe they just get married in Vegas?
Rich mans up and sends an email, asking the pastor if the church would be available for a wedding. To his surprise, Rich receives a positive response. And the pastor actually remembers him by name!
In their pre-marriage classes, Stephanie and Rich have an opportunity to discuss hurts, expectations, faith and blessings that Jesus promises them. Both in marriage and in a church.
They realize three things about marriage and church. Both are a partnership involving humans. Both involve God. And of everyone involved, only God is perfect! That helps their perspective about both.
The pastor shares this verse with them. “You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household” (Ephesians 2:19). This is God’s assurance, he says, that you are still church members. And really good ones! You are God’s people!
Really? But Stephanie and Rich feel like they’ve disrespected God by drifting from church. The pastor explains that they may have indeed drifted from God, but he hasn’t drifted from them. He has a house for them where they are welcome every Sunday, and forever.
You. Yes, you, church drifter or doubter, disillusioned or disappointed by church. On behalf of churches and pastors everywhere, I say, “We’re sorry.” We want to do better, and it starts by assuring you that God has a place for you in his church family.
PRAYER: Dear God, today I pray for churches everywhere. Equip them with spiritual leaders who are humble, hard working, and true to you, Lord. Fill them with believers eager for the gospel, both believing it and sharing it. Renew and revive your church, Lord, for the salvation of many more souls! Amen.
FAITH ACTIVITY: Send this to a spiritual leader in your church, or to a friend you’d like to invite to church, and say, “This made me think of you.”