What Do I Get Out of Church?
Better yet, what do I give back to it?
Living Faith by James M. Dakis
Why do we go to church?
A man walked up to the pastor after church one morning, an unsatisfied look on his face: “I don’t want to offend you, pastor, but I didn’t really get anything out of today’s worship,” he declared.
“None taken,” the pastor answered. “We weren’t worshiping you.”
It may seem like a strange question: Why do we go to church? We go to worship God, right? After all, we go to “Worship Service(s).” OK, but what exactly is worship?
What exactly does this word that we, as Christians, toss around so freely mean? If asked, how many of us could give an honest definition? I must confess that even I had to look up a dictionary definition, only to find that the word has an interesting origin and doesn’t always fit with what Biblical worship is.
The Old English origin of the word means to give worthiness or meritoriousness to something — essentially, to provide exceptional value above everything else. As such, worship can be given to anything or anyone: your car, your job, your money, or a celebrity, to name a few.
Biblical worship of God is to give this worship to God above all else. This should be the purpose of our involvement in our local church. To give worship to God.
But is church supposed to be separated between worship and teaching?
How many of us attend churches where we think of Sunday services as having essentially two parts — “Worship” and “Preaching?” It is as if the music, whether performed by a choir or a worship band (possibly joined by the congregation), is a separate part of the service from the pastor’s message.
Granted, singing and preaching are different ways of worship and are usually presented by different ministry team leaders. However, do they have different missions, or are they part of the same ministry? Furthermore, are we worshipping in song, preaching, both, or something else?
Have expectations changed?
To answer this question, let us first look at the people who gathered in what would be one of the first “churches.”
“And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.” (Acts 20:7, KJV)
While we don’t know if there had been other gatherings on Sundays, this is the first time that it is identified as the day that the faithful gathered. Whatever the case, the Bible does not tell us that the Sabbath moved from Saturday to Sunday; the day of rest did not change. Christians, probably honoring the day of Christ’s resurrection, chose it as a day of worship.
What happened at these early meetings isn’t spelled out in a manual per se. However, we find in I Corinthians 14:26 that there are instructions for those with gifts to use them during the assembly of believers. Among these would be teaching, prophesying, and exhorting others. Three chapters earlier Paul gives a detailed explanation of the Lord’s Supper, explaining,
“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” (I Corinthians 11:26, KJV)
In other words, this should be part of our Sunday worship. Whether it should be done every week, every month, quarterly, or otherwise is a subject of debate. Regardless, it is an act of worship.
Furthermore, what are you bringing to the table? A church is only as strong as the people there. It is more than the clergy at the pulpit, the choir or others providing music, and the ushers. It is people who come to worship who get involved.
Look at all the ministries of your church. There are probably some that you don’t even know about. There may be some barely hanging on that could use your help. Don’t just go to church; be the church!
Let’s review here:
Am I going to church to be entertained?
To be seen?
To be taught?
To fulfill an obligation?
Or am I going to church to worship the Living God of the Universe?
“Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.” — Dwight L. Moody
How often a person attends church is not a determining factor in whether or not he or she goes to Heaven. It does not divide the pious from the average Christian, the theologian from the layman.
What differentiates us is our reason(s) for going, what we go to get from our time there, and what we leave behind.
Special thanks to Grace Bianco, Diana C., and Perry Malzahn for their encouragement and support, which have made me a better writer.
Living Faith by James M. Dakis is a Christian writing ministry that shares devotional teachings and faith-based fiction for anyone hoping to grow in Christ. Whether you are already a Christian or have questions about your faith, I would love to talk with you. Comment here or reach out to me personally.