Examine Your Focus at Church
This post isn’t about why you go to church or why you don’t attend church. It’s not looking at the purpose of church or the importance of church attendance. Instead it’s to ask the important question, what is your reason for church attendance?
Yourself
Most of us live in a society that elevates individualism.
Our motivation for much of what we do is self-centered. What’s in it for me? is the question most people ask. They may do this directly or it may be self-conscious, but most activities are motivated by self-interest.
This is the underlying reason for church attendance that motivates many people today.
They may go to experience powerful worship music. Some participate and others watch, as if going to a concert.
They pick the church with the best music or most entertaining performance. But when they hear about a church that offers better music, they’re quick to switch their allegiance to the new congregation.
Others go to church for the message. They seek a dynamic preacher who delivers powerful sermons. They may go to learn about God or be challenged to live a better life. They may seek inspiration or merely to have their ears tickled (2 Timothy 4:3).
How many times have you heard someone say or even said yourself “I’m just not being fed at church” or “I’m not getting anything out of it.”?
This is a sure indication of church attendance to address a personal need. The focus of these people at church is themselves.
Others
A secondary motivation people may give as their reason for church attendance is others. This outward focus is more admirable than a self-centered perspective.
This motivation may be to serve others or encourage them.
It can be structured, such as teaching a class or taking part in the service. Or it can be unstructured, such as looking for people who may need prayer, receive encouragement, or long for someone to talk to.
This other-people focus may also be to set a positive example. One common reason is to model church attendance for friends and family, especially children.
A third consideration is community. Since we come together for church, there’s an inherent communal aspect of attendance. Do we tend to ignore it or contribute to it?
Feeding into the spiritual community at church is a great way to help others and build into them.
God
A third reason for church attendance is to worship God. We make him our focus. This is a most pious-sounding motivation. It makes us sound so spiritual.
Yet in doing so, we run the risk of turning our church attendance into a private, personal time to connect with God, which incidentally, is something we can do from the comfort of our home and don’t need to go to a church building to accomplish.
The side effect of being hyper focused on God is ignoring others and what’s happening around us. This defeats the reason for us meeting together (Hebrews 10:24-25)
A Holistic Reason for Church Attendance
When we go to church, we should participate in the music portion and engage with a message part.
We should seek ways to encourage others, bolster interpersonal connection, and serve people—in both practical and spiritual ways.
And we go to honor God and connect with him. But he’s the most important reason.
Therefore, the three-fold reason for church attendance is for God, for others, and then for ourselves—in that order.
Each aspect is important. We must attend to all three, but God comes first.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
Bogged Down Reading the Bible?
Get the Bible Reading Tip Sheet: “10 Tips to Turn Bible Reading from Drudgery to Delight.”
Enter your info and receive the free Bible Reading Tip Sheet and be added to Peter’s email list.