CHURCH IS NOT GOD

A lot of people mistake Church for God. The truth is, Church is not God.

However, God is Church. God is all about Church.

Those who mistake church for God assign all the issues they have with church to God, and that’s not right.

Church as we know it today, is more man, than God.

We live in an increasingly secular society. The word secular simply refers to a world view separate from God. A world without God!

Today it is very popular to say, “I’m spiritual”. Which denotes an awareness of a spiritual realm, without recognizing God as the sole creator of all things. He’s just a spirit, like any other spirit. Or so we say.

We say things like “the man upstairs”, wherever that is. Or the “universe”. Being sure not to say things like the Lord or God Almighty.

Those general terms we believe keep us away from any affiliation with today’s church.

In this new age, church is not popular. God is okay, but Jesus is not.

America is said to have been a nation founded on God and his principles.

Yet more than half of the nation wants no affiliation with church.

Even though more and more Americans are abandoning the tradition of church and its markings of any religious identity, many still believe in God and practice faith outside the walls.

They love God but hate church.

This group has been identified as the “DeChurched”.

Those who have attended a service or church at least once before, or perhaps were even a member of a religious organization previously, but now want no association with organized church or religion.

They are dechurched.

The group is comprised of those between the ages of 33-70 years old, which means most are boomers and Gen-X.

It has also been reported that most of this group are women, (61%).

They have lost faith in church because they have “church wounds”.

Someone in or related to church has disappointed, hurt, been abusive or committed a crime. Which is horrible.

But we must remember, Church is not God.

Church is not a building. It’s not where you meet, but rather who you’re going to meet.

The problem is the church, not God.

But who is the church? We are. Those who love and believe in God.

If we, the people of God, demand a better product we will get it.

The staff and administrative team are there to provide what we need.

Its our job to show them what we need.

The purpose of church is not to have a fashion show, or a music concert.

It’s not for a raffle or to raise money, it’s not a place to display orators’ skills, political viewpoints, or uplift corporate government.

The purpose of church is a place to worship God. Yes, worship.

Let’s look at the instructions given to the very first church.

“For you are to be worshippers of no other god; for the Lord is God, who will not give his honor to another” Exodus 34:14

Now that’s a term we don’t often hear today. Worshippers.

We are called to be Worshippers, and only worship God.

Maybe church isn’t what it is supposed to be because we aren’t worshipping God there.

We worship the speaker, we worship the singers, we worship the musicians, we worship the crowds, we worship people’s notoriety and acclaim, we even worship the architecture of the building. But do we worship God!

Worship is not a style of singing, it’s a way to live.

Earlier I said God is all about Church. Church should be all about God.

Join me this week, and let’s be the church, by living a life worshipping God, even if its only for a day or two.

             This is a Thompson Truth