We are the church

For the past couple of years, due to moving around, I have had the experience of attending scores of different churches, and at least a dozen different denominations.

I have found some disturbing things in most of those churches, and one of the many is the fact that it seems to me most Christians go to church on Sunday. Period. Some come early to Bible study, and a handful show up on Wednesday nights for Bible study. But even they appear to be missing the message.

The Great Commission seems to me to be falling by the wayside except for a small percentage of churchgoers.

The bulk of church-goers appear to be involved with the church in Christian-on-Christian events rather than outreach of any sort. They volunteer to help in the kitchen for church suppers, or teach a Bible study from time to time, or type the church bulletin. Now, don't get me wrong. All of these things is important. But they are not THE MOST IMPORTANT thing we have to do.

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to help in a teen ministry. The teens who we worked with were entirely unchurched, and for most, the first time they ever heard of Jesus Christ -- other than as a curse word -- was in that ministry.

We had many children make decisions for Christ and ask the Holy Spirit into their lives. And we brought several with us to our church.

Now, our church was a perfectly hospitable church, and in fact, was one of the most Godly and charitable churches I have ever had the pleasure of attending. But those children were not welcomed in the church. It was heartbreaking to see the cold shoulder which they got there.

There were several times when I skipped the "regular" church in order to participate in a special event we had with the teens. On those occasions, I was asked by several people, "Where were you Sunday?" And when I explained, I was usually met with some comment about the need to come to "real church."

Why didn't these people, Christians all their lives, for the most part, understand that the church is not a building? The church is not something I leave at lunchtime on Sunday afternoon!

The church is inside of me. And of you. We carry the church with us while we do God's work. And we should be doing God's work all the time.