3 Reasons to Go Back to Church

You've been hurt. Worse, by people you trusted--or thought you could. Going back to church--any church--gives you hives. Why set yourself up for that again? Why risk hanging out with people who look like Christians, say they're Christians, but who may not always act like Christians? (Not like I've had these types of conversations with myself, mind you.)Leaving a church is hard--like a divorce, or a death in the family. And there are times in our lives that for whatever reason we need to make an exit. Wacko doctrine, unrepentant sin within the leadership, abuse--there are a number of valid reasons to leave a church. However, leaving because the worship pastor won't let our tone-deaf 6-year-old sing solos is not a good reason. Or leaving when the pastor teaches a passage in the Bible that calls out our sin? Also not a good reason. We can't forget that the pastor's job is to teach the whole Bible, not just the warm and fuzzy parts. If Jesus died for our sins, then it makes sense that we, in fact, have sin that needs to be repented of. Church isn't the Rotary Club after all.So assuming we left for a good reason, why go back? Why try to find another church filled with other people who might hurt us again? Getting to know new people is so exhausting, it takes too long to feel a part of a close group, and what if they don't like us? There's just so many good reasons not to go, why bother? Going for a walk with the dog and sipping on a latte on Sunday mornings is a lot less hassle than doing that whole church gig again.Yes, but.Let me ask you, have you ever been in a car accident?If so, why do you get in a car anymore? You could have another accident, right?Have you ever fallen down?Then why would you want to get up and try to walk? What if you fall down again?You get where I'm going.Let's remember that church, or more precisely, The Church, is a group of imperfect human beings following a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ.  There are bound to be bumps in our church experience. Our problem is often our unreasonable expectations of the people who go there. We expect they'll act like Jesus. All.of.the.time. Well, here's a dirty little secret about church: ANNOYING SINNERS GO THERE. Sinners like (gasp!) you and me.If you're still with me and you need some concrete reasons to go back to church, let me offer three:

• Because We're a Family...If you've been "born again," a term Jesus used to describe people who've put their faith in Him, you have been adopted into God's family. Let that sink in--some people have no family, but we do! Families support one another, love each other, pray for each other, among lots of "one another" ways that show they belong to each other. Our love for one another, in fact, is a sign that we really are in this family called the Body of Christ. Bill and I have repeatedly been on the receiving end of this love and care throughout our lives. Our church families have shared our burdens we simply couldn't bear alone.
• ...That needs to hang outFamilies live together. As Christian brothers and sisters, we're commanded 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." (Hebrews 10:24-25) Being in close physical proximity is still the best way to show love and encouragement. Face to face is still better than Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or podcasts.
• ...And worship togetherWhat are the things we do in church? Listen to God's Word, sing, remember Christ's death through communion, identify with Jesus through baptism, serve in various capacities and give. Those things don't happen on a mountain top or in a dog park. (Not that spending time on a mountain is a bad thing--both Moses and Jesus did that from time to time. Not sure if either ever went to a dog park, though.) Yes, we can worship God alone. But in addition to, not instead of, corporate worship.

I am an introvert. Being in a group isn't always my happy place. Left to my own devices, I could choose to hide in my house, and live my own brand of lone ranger Christianity. But we were made to live out this graced life, not for ourselves but for Jesus, and through His Spirit, for and with others. And truly, when we lose our life for Jesus' sake, that's when we find it.How about you? Have you ever had to leave a church? How hard was it to jump back in again? If you haven't yet, what's your biggest hesitation?