I grew up in church … I’m good. (Why having a family history of church attendance and online church is NOT enough)

No such thing folks. There’s just no such thing. God didn’t say “do not forsake the assembling of yourselves” for HIS health - it’s for OUR health and well being! 

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.“‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I always find it fascinating - and a little arrogant - when I ask someone I knew to be a Christian or perhaps someone I used to see in church prior and hadn’t in a while, “ Hey, where are you worshiping now?” to be met with - “Oh I watch such and such church online now” or “oh, me and Jesus we have our own time at home — you know I pray everyday, Sheri. Me and God are like “this” (insert crossed fingers to, I guess, demonstrate their interwoven dynamic such that church isn’t necessary…)

I’m gunna just say it - knock it off. 

Admit that you’re just lazy, you don’t want the accountability or responsibility of acting on what you hear, you enjoy sleeping in and having time to do your meal prepping, you don’t want to have to interact with anyone after a long week, you got spoiled by COVID and now prefer the leisurely online service in your comfy clothes sipping your coffee, or just having it on in the background while you clean the house or paint your nails. Speak the truth and shame the devil. 

It is actually unacceptable to call yourself a Bible believing Jesus loving Christian and refuse regular church attendance- like it’s optional. It’s as optional as tithing (boom! That’s right - I said that too.) Having attended Sunday school and vacation Bible school every summer, going on the annual fall missions trips, trekking along with mom to choir practice and dad to the church golf outings until you were 18, does NOT mean you’ve somehow maxed out on God such that you can “retire early” and coast on your God knowledge the rest of your life. You’re fooling yourself and the enemy is thrilled at your presumption because your spiritual growth is stunted and your effectiveness is minimal. You’re ideal for his use. You’re neutralized and not plugged in at all. 

You NEVER get enough of Jesus. You NEVER stop growing and  needing direction and community. You are not a Jesus PhD that can attend service once in a while. This is like actually believing you can survive healthily having eaten nutritiously and consistently so much in your life that you can afford to just STOP eating the rest of your life, or cut down to just a snack or two a day (ie your home devotion time you think replaces church and fellowship)  and what you put in over the last couple of decades will now sustain you ongoing. Doesn’t that sound ridiculous ? Well so does your “home churching” routine. You need consistent nourishment - forever- to physically survive and thrive so how much more in your spirit?

For those who are truly bed-ridden or ill, this is not for you. This is for the perfectly able bodied, if it was a concert for your favorite artist you’d be out the door at 6am no questions asked, “I just want to be alone with Jesus because church is full of hypocrites anyway” folks.  This is for the ones that just want to make excuses around the sacrifice and act of obedience that is to get your butt into God's house every week. I repeat: It.is.not.optional. 

The church - YES overflowing with very imperfect people- is also a place for healing, for community prayer (“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬) for hearing different perspectives in the Word and challenging your faith (“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬) a place to plant your seed (tithe) to support the work of the Lord, and a place where YOUR gifts have room to be pulled upon to edify the body. There’s a give and take. As much as you could benefit from a hug from a sibling in the faith, someone could be waiting on a hug from YOU. 

Listen - at the time of this writing, I’m a mom of 2 under 2. If you don’t know what that means let me give you a snapshot (disclaimer - if youre reading this and don’t yet have kids and want them … reader discretion is advised!)  Every Sunday morning -with the help of my husband AND my mother - THIS is what going to church looks like: get up, dress self at least halfway,  change both diapers, brush teeth, wash faces, make 2 different bottles, prep the food for church, check both bags - twice - that we have what’s needed for children’s church for the older one and to get through service for the younger one, noise canceling headphones for the younger one who’s sensitive, get 2 Sunday best outfits on .. oh no who just spit up on their dress ?! Change clothes, where’s MY coffee ?? Wait I don’t have shoes on .. please don’t try to ride the bike now we’re leaving, coats, shoes, car seat - screams and pacifiers because no one wants to be in a winter coat in a stuffy car seat, did you get her bag or did I? Where’s the extra formula ? One out in the car, run back in for the other - I look in the mirror on my way out and realize I forgot to put my earrings in - wait did I wash my face ? I think so.. who’s crying now ? Did you get her milk for the car ride…what?! You’re hungry again?……. 

Yea. Welcome to our world.  And guess what? We never miss a Sunday unless one of the girls is truly ill. Why? Because God said so. Because they need to know early on that as for us and THIS house - we WILL serve the Lord and if He says we do not skip church - then we do NOT skip church. People wait to see our girls (and us I guess) . We are an encouragement and an example. We get to worship God ourselves and hear the Word - get fed personally, and reflect on it at home. We get anchored afresh in who we are and see that there are other families with young babies doing the things and making the trek so we can grow together. Do I LOVE this routine every week - NO! I get annoyed, I’d much rather lay in bed some weeks, but it’s not about how I FEEL- it’s about who I serve and what He did for ME. It’s about the  millions around the world who risk their very lives to be seen with a Bible let alone boldly enter a church who would give anything for my freedom to come to the Lord's house with normalcy and boldness. And we Americans  stay home because it's raining. Wow. 

So yes, if you’ve been hanging out at home having some 1:1 church you think God is impressed with, I’m sorry to bust your bubble. Well, actually I’m not. It’s time to dust off your Bible, dig out your slacks or that sundress (or jeans, it’s 2024) and just get into the house of God where you belong. You’ll never ever regret your obedience.