Your Family in Faith
Church in South Africa is mostly open again after lockdowns have been lifted and we’re allowed to gather again, with protocols in place of course.
I wonder why you bother coming to church? A lot of people don’t anymore. Even people who consider themselves very faithful Christians don’t really give church much time these days.
Bill Gates once said this in an interview: “In terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.” Maybe you agree with him. Augustine, on the other hand, a great father of the faith, said this: “You cannot have God for a Father if you refuse to have the church for a mother.”
I would encourage you this week to get invested in your local church. Whether you’re keeping your distance to stay safe and only watching online, or whether you’re going back in person, get involved in your local church.
Why Church Still Matters in a Digital World
Now, at first glance, it seems like church is probably less necessary than it’s ever been. It used to be that to hear the gospel preached, to hear the Bible explained, you had to go to church. Then came radio. Then came TV. Then came the internet. Today you can hear the best preachers on the planet on YouTube.
It used to be that to sing great songs of faith, you had to go to church. Together you’d sing as a family. Today you get onto YouTube and you’ve got the best musicians in the world singing and recording amazing worship songs. You can just press play!
It used to be that the church paved the way for social justice in the world. You could give to the church and be assured that your church would do good with the offerings. But now there are many organisations, Christian and otherwise, that do a lot of good in the world, providing for people’s needs.
So why, I hear you ask, go to church? I can hear the best preachers, sing the best music, help people, without even stepping foot in the place.
Church Is About Fellowship, Not Just Content
I believe the answer is this: it’s because of the fellowship, or the relationships with the community. The essence of church is not consuming spiritual content. It’s about connecting with people.
I’m sure you’ve church-hopped a bit during COVID-19 haven’t you? Watched services from all sorts of churches around the country, around the world? Maybe you watch your church’s service and another one. You get devotions from all sorts of people on WhatsApp and all over the place. And it’s amazing that you can do that. And I’m not saying you shouldn’t. But I am saying it shouldn’t stop you from connecting with a local church community, because that’s your family in faith.
As we start the week, can I encourage you to get in touch with people in your local church community, and come alongside them, and do life with them. And remember, church is not about consuming content. It’s about connecting with your family in faith.
Biddy Chambers set aside her personal ambitions to serve God and others. Perhaps we need to do the same.