Church on Sunday? No thanks.

Two weeks ago I challenged my Table to plan something with their neighbors before me met again.  I heard a few stories of what was happening around.  Brian and Sarah had a Birthday Bash with Bugs, and even though it had already been planned, they still invited neighbors and the neighbors came.  Along with a ton of other people (see pic).

After seeing their party, I had a thought.  If 80% of the people in our community do not go to church on Sundays, is it possible that they just won't go no matter how good the "services" are?  I mean, we have some great churches around and some great programs, but why do only 20% of the people attend.  They have looked and said, "Church on Sundays?  No thanks."

After a little bit of intentionality and a lot of relational pull, Brian and Sarah were able to get some of the 80% to their house.  Why could they get them to their house, when they won't go to church?  I am convinced that it just doesn't make sense to most people.  Why in the world would they spend their only off day or off morning to come sing in a giant choir and listen to a lecturer?  Maybe the band is good and the speaker is good, but c'mon.  In what is called the post-Christian era, if it doesn't work for people then people stop going.  When my parents were young, it didn't matter if it worked for you or if it was any good, you went to church because that's what Christians do.  I am just not convinced that's what Christ-followers would do, partly because Jesus didn't lead us to the temple, but out into the people.  I'm not sure that Jesus would attend our churches on Sunday mornings if he were walking the planet today.  Why?  My reasoning lies within the 80% that are "out there" somewhere.

Tonight was a special night for me and the life of our Table.  We hosted a "front yard" Grillin' & Chillin' in our driveway.  We had 17 people from my street come over and 14 people from other neighborhoods along 518.  18 of us had been to a "service" at the Springs, but 13 had not.  Some of my neighbors have been to other churches, but not all of them.  We tapped into the 80%...and it sure felt good...really good.  As I look at Jesus and how he lived, I see a man who seemed to love the 80% more than anything in this world.  I am starting to understand why.

Now, don't get me wrong, I think that corporate gatherings of Christ-followers have a place.  I'm just not sure that they should carry the importance that we have seemed to give them, and they definitely don't seem to be doing the job when it comes to connecting with those that Jesus would be connecting with if he were here (physically).  Some of the most interesting gatherings of Christ-followers that I've been reading about have very different gatherings than what I'm used to.  One church gathers in a room with the entire family - kids running around and everything.  The setting looks more like a living room than a church.  Other "churches" meet in coffee shops, bowling alleys, living rooms, etc.

In a couple of weeks, several churches in our area are participating in a "The Church Has Left the Building" campaign and canceling their services (well some of their services) on Sunday to go out into the community and serve.  By the way, why do we call them services when we just go and sit and listen?  This is a great thing.  I am excited that it's happening in the community.  Really.  But why only once?  Could this lead these churches to do it more often?  One other church plant in our area stops their weekly meetings when there is a 5th Sunday and they go serve.  Yes.  Nice move.  

For us, we are building in time margin in our church schedule to do four things more regularly.  We want to provide opportunities for people to belong, serve, grow and play.  We have been known to be camping on Sunday mornings, going to baseball games on Sunday mornings, going on vacations on Sunday mornings, etc.  In every one of these places, I have seen better opportunities to connect spiritually with others than sitting in a church listening to even the best speakers.  But what about connecting with God?  Is there a better way to connect with God than sitting across the table looking into the eyes of someone created in His image?  Is there a better way to connect with God than caring about the very things he cares about and doing the very things that he did?  We must continue to explore this question, "How can we be the church where we are, no matter where that is?"

Take a look at that picture above again.  Could that be the picture of the "church" in the future?  Some people think it is...Church on Sundays?  No thanks.