Going to Church

“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 – an all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-24 NIV)

I know a lot of people who used to go to church.

Honestly, they are everywhere. I meet them at the grocery store and the post office. I find them in little boutiques and big box home improvement stores. I overhear their conversations in crowded coffeeshops and in the bleachers at sporting events. I see their pain-laced posts on facebook.

As soon as people find out what it is I do, they let me know “I used to go there.” Or “I grew up in that church.” If I’m brave enough to ask why they don’t attend any longer, the answer is very rarely “We got busy.” or “God isn’t important to me anymore.” Nope, it’s usually “I was hurt.”

I get it. I truly do. If you knew the depth of my hurts that have happened at church, you’d be amazed that I’m still a member, that I carry credentials and that I preach the Word. How? Why? Because it’s the example my Savior set. On my most recent journey through the gospels, I’ve been struck by the fact that Jesus keeps returning to Jerusalem. Over and over again, He turns up in the Temple, even though He was resisted, rejected and stoning had been more than suggested. But He couldn’t resist the pull of the only place that truly felt like Home. I suppose, at the end of the day, that’s why I keep going, too. Because I know that church the closest thing on earth to the Place my heart wholly longs for.

Getting hurt at church is a fact of life. Any time you get people together to talk about the intersection of feelings and truth, you run the risk of injury. Church is no exception. Honestly, our likelihood of wounding at church is probably a great deal higher than other places because we have an enemy who works hard keep us from divine connection and spiritual growth. He sows discord at every turn, ever determined to undermine the agenda of heaven.

But the truth is, we get hurt other places, too.

Car accidents happen, yet people still line up outside the DMV every day to renew their licenses. Most of us have had food poisoning once or twice, but we still go out to restaurants and eat meals prepared by strangers in unseen kitchens. We’ve all been scalded by a too-hot beverage, yet the world still collectively pours 1.4 billion cups of coffee each and every day. Most of us have tripped on our own two feet, but we’re not ready to give up walking or running. I’ve loved both my parents all the way to their deathbed and it was the most painful experience to date, but the memory of that pain won’t keep me from loving my kids and spouse ’til death do us part.

But for some reason, we get hurt at church and we are ready to give it up altogether. Why? Church is the one place we can take all our wounds and find healing. Yes, it hurts at first, but if we keep going, if we push through the pain, we’ll find sanctuary and restoration. God will grow us past our hurt. As long as we keep showing up.

Once we’ve grown past our pain, we can be an encouragement to others. We can rally the troops toward our final destination: heaven, a place entirely free from hurt forever.

The beautiful thing about church is that some are strong while others are weak. And then seasons change. The once-strong may become weak but it’s ok because the once-weak are now strong enough to offer support, to edify. We take turns holding one another up, week after week, year after year.

When we leave church, we buy the lie that we are stronger and safer on our own. It couldn’t be further from the truth. A lone sheep is far easier to pick off than a whole herd. There’s a power and blessing in being together that cannot be achieved on our own.

“For where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am with them. (Matthew 18:20 NIV)

Lord, please give us the courage to gather week after week, year after year, even when we’ve been hurt. Help us see You in our midst. Heal our pain. Grow us strong in You that we may be an encouragement to others. Amen.