The Problem of Getting Nothing Out of Church

(Part 2 of a 2 Part Series: “The Christian and His Church”) Last week we talked about the fact that the Bible clearly commands us to attend church and God expects us to do so. It is impossible to live as a sincerely dedicated Christian without spending time in church being helped and encouraged by Bible teaching and preaching and the love of other believers. But what does one do when he believes that he doesn’t get anything out of church?
I will be the first to admit that there have been a few times in my life when I attended church when I did not feel I got much out of it. (That has happened both before and after I became a pastor! On those times it happened after I became a pastor, could it have been the pastor’s fault? Perhaps it was!) However, there can be many reasons that one does not get much out of church. It would be helpful perhaps, to isolate the reasons, and deal with each of them appropriately.

First, some people get little out of church because, they feel funny going, or they feel they are not used to it. If you have not gone to church in a long time, you may feel as though you don’t know anyone. If you have never been to church, you may not know anything about church, and you may believe that it is something completely strange to you. If that is the case, then I encourage you to look at church going like you would consider going to a ball game, or going to a movie, or any other public place, for the first time. When you go to a ball game, especially for the first time, you may not know anyone there. But that doesn’t keep you from enjoying the ball game. Your purpose for going is to see the game, not simply to feel comfortable in a social gathering. When you get used to going to see the game, you get more comfortable with the people around you. It is the same way in church, even better. The more you go, the more you will get to know others, and the more you will enjoy it.

Second, some will claim they don’t get anything out of church even when they have given it a fair chance. They may not particularly like the music, or the preaching, or the style of worship. I will admit that there are some music styles I like better than others, and some preachers have styles of preaching that I like better than others. If you feel strongly about these things, then don’t drop out just because you don’t like the music or preaching. Different churches have many different worship styles. Find a church where you enjoy their style of music and preaching and then commit yourself to it and stick with it. Just make sure they preach and teach the Bible. Some people say, “Well I don’t want to go to another church, but I don’t like the way my church is doing things.” You need to make up your mind. You either need to find a church where you enjoy worshiping, or you need to go back to your home church and lovingly suggest ways to make changes that can help the church to minister better, not just for your sake, but for others.
Third, some will claim they don’t get anything out of church because there are hypocrites in the church. Dear friend, it is important for you to understand that there are hypocrites everywhere. There are hypocrites in the grocery store, hypocrites in the shopping mall, hypocrites on the golf course, hypocrites at the ball games, and hypocrites in town hall meetings. Does that keep you from buying groceries, or playing golf, or going to the ball game, or going to the doctor’s office? What will you do when you get to heaven and God asks you, “Why didn’t you come to church more often?” and you say, “Well, Lord, I wanted to, but there were too many hypocrites there” and He says, “You mean you let a hypocrite stand between you and Me?”

Fourth, some will say that they have been hurt by people in the church, and they can’t stand to go back to church. It is true that sometimes people will say and do things that will hurt each other. It is also true that there is no such thing as a perfect church. You could always choose to go to another church; but it is wicked and sinful to stop going to church altogether. However, the Bible says if you are offended by someone, you are supposed to go and tell them, and give them a chance to ask your forgiveness. If that doesn’t work then take a friend, and finally take it before the whole church. (Matthew 18:15-17). If you honestly believe you have done that and it didn’t solve the problem, then you should find another house of worship. Don’t compound your problem by offending God in not going to church at all.

The major factor in remaining happy in church is the same with everything else you do in life; it is your own attitude. It is imperative that you make up your mind that you will (1) find a way that you will enjoy church and a church you will enjoy and (2) that you, yourself, will make a contribution to church so that you may help others to enjoy it, as you would have others to help you enjoy it. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)

James Sanders
Pastor, First Baptist Church
sandersjc@yahoo.com