Church-Going

"Go to church or the Devil will get you!"

If you've traveled I-65 between Birmingham and Montgomery, you've probably seen those words, along with a picture of "the devil," on a sign on the side of the interstate near the Autauga and Chilton County line. I am not sure of the theology behind the sign, but I do believe in "going to church." 

However, it is no secret that a large segment of our society--including many people who would describe themselves as Christians--don't feel it's necessary to regularly attend church services. And of course that number has increased even more in recent years, during and after the pandemic, especially with the availability of online worship services. 

Let me say, we are glad to be able to provide those online services at Shelby Crossings for those who are unable to attend, but if that's the only church experience people have, they are missing out.

I saw a meme on social media a few weeks back and just had to screen-shot it to save it. It said this: "Watching church on a livestream is like watching a fireplace on a screen. You see it but you don't feel the warmth. Go to church."  I found that to be particularly funny because at Christmas, we had a video of a flickering fire in a fireplace playing on the TV in our living room while our family was opening presents. It was obviously there just "for effect," which I think is the point of that meme.

Along those same lines, I heard a story many years ago about a man who had stopped attending services at his church. After a while, his pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him in, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the awkward silence, he watched the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. 

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. 

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time 

to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. 

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday."

I guess it's all about how you see church. If you attend for the purpose of guilt-management, in an attempt to try to even the scales with God, or earn His approval, then church will probably be empty and unfulfilling for you. If you understand that "church" is about being a part of a family and fellowship where you know and are know, you love and are loved, and you serve and are served, then it will be meaningful and productive and you won't want to miss it. Because you will realize that God created us to be interdependent upon one another, and when you get disconnected from the rest of the fire, your flame will eventually flicker out. We need each other.

So, let's stay away from the Devil, and join together this Sunday at The Church at Shelby Crossings. I look forward to seeing you there.

--Pastor Ken