Go to Church.

I read an article this morning on USA Today that has got me kind of fired up-about Christians who lie about their church attendance. 

Yes, you read that correctly. Christians who lie about their church attendance. 

About 23% of Americans actually do attend church "regularly" (two or three times a month or more) according to time diaries (in which people account for 24 hours of recent activity). But 35% to 45% say they attend regularly when asked on surveys. -USA Today

23% actual. 35-45% reported. that's a pretty big gap... Why is church attendance such a difficult thing for people to commit to? If you think about it- it's maximum 2-3 hours every week- that's it. 2-3 hours out of 168 hours in our week. If you do the math- that's less than .01%.  not even a tenth of a percent.


Look, I know stuff comes up during our weeks- and we have to miss church- but missing out on what God is doing 1 or 2 or 3 Sundays out of the month isn't' going to help you grow in your faith, or strengthen your spiritual life. Then you have your super-spiritual "do it yourself-ers" that think God is "leading them to pursue their faith on their own" (rubbish). Sure, you can read your Bible at home. Sure, you can worship at home. But DO YOU? I'd bet the answer is no because one of the main reasons that we skip out on church is because we get too "busy". and this post isn't to beat you up-  by no means- but sometimes you need to see something and check yourself and see if the boot fits.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV 

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

In a Christian's life gathering together in a unified body of believers is so important. Why? Do I have to give reasons? Nevertheless, I will. =)

• It is an Expression of our Love for God - Psa. 22:22
• It builds up our Spiritual Strength - Rom. 10:17
• It brings a special visitation of the Lord's Presence  - Matt. 18:20
•  It is an act of obedience to God -  Hebrews 10:24
• To reject church attendance, is a rejection of one of the sacred duties of the believer. "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

When you think about the truth of people in other nations risking their lives, walking for miles and miles, dying to sit on a dirty floor with no air/heat, with no fancy projection screens or musical productions- simply to hear about the name of Jesus- it can challenge us, for the better, to quit hitting the snooze button because it's our "only day" off, quit getting offended because "sister so-and-so didn't do what I think she should have done", and quit saying that "the Lord is leading to other places" or "i'm just not getting fed"; and start living our faith like Christians should. Not having to lie about it in gallop polls- because our church attendance won't be to ease a guilty conscience but because of a conscience and a life set free that is thankful for the gifts and blessings that God has given to us.

It's a small price to pay- really. Less than .01% of our week dedicated to God's house- dedicated to a God that has spent countless hours- years- thousands of years- orchestrating the greatest gift of Love that we could ever be given!

So if you haven't been going to church or lying about it: 

• Stop lying about it. 
• Start going to church. 
• Be faithful. Make a commitment- stick to it. No matter how sleepy you are... 

It just may change your life.