Why don't I like going to church?

It’s hard to hear from God at church

Have you ever had a Sunday that you have been looking forward to going to church? But afterwards you leave with a sense of let-down and disappointment. What happened?

You really wanted to sense the Holy Spirits’ presence and maybe even ‘hear’ from God. But you end up leaving thinking well they did their best, and wondering if all churches are the same?

Well unfortunately many are the same, because the humans in charge of them believe their man-made programs, activities (doings) and announcements describing church happenings (man-made), is as important as worship & praise, and feeding on the Word of God. But is not at all. We have found ourselves leaving church saying, well at least I got to see my friend Mary Jane or John. And boy wasn’t great to give in the offering for that special youth group trip. (Sarcasm)

Or maybe a guest speaker is at church that Sunday and the first thing they share is that they have a table in the back with books, tapes, CDs and artwork fro the children in Bulgaria! Who cares?

Are we making God house a temple of merchandise (money-changing)? I believe Jesus had a very clear statement about this very thing. His righteous indignation (turning over tables and stating plainly the purpose for His father’s house. Yet all this and NO sin He committed. What about if we follow in our Lords footsteps, as we should in every example. What would happen? Would our words be heeded by the church leaders?

With all these human doings going on in church it is very, very easy to understand why unbelievers laugh at attending church. There is very little life changing impact happening there!

No wonder the church struggles in America to ‘minister’ to peoples needs. Because it cannot!

I feel embarrassed to invite unbelievers to my church

What I mean by this is only the Holy Spirit can minister to peoples needs and sometimes He uses people yielded and attentive to achieve it. So what does the unbeliever see at church?

We end up getting 15-20 minutes of singing worship and praise, which is a positive that can lift our souls up and away out of our minds troubles. A Holy Spirit environment for sure. Mostly enjoyable. Opportunity for a special anointing is great here. Followed by…

The offering. And if we have been encouraged in song we might dig a little deeper and truly worship God in our giving. This is a neutral I feel neither positive or negative for our soul. Many times a duty or obligation. Even the unbeliever will give. Followed by….

The announcements. The Holly Spirit killer! It brings us out of worship back down into our minds. A work of humans. A true negative to church service. The only part of service where the unbeliever might feel comfortable. Followed by…

The sermon. God’s word has an anointing on it every time it is read or quoted. Another opportunity for the minister to focus on God and not their own agenda. This can be a positive for church service. And also a turning point for the unbeliever. Followed by….

The Benediction. Some churches encourage prayer time and more seeking of God at the altar. However they do not deliver. We see most folks begin to leave or begin chatting with friends about personal interests and the like which is the social aspect of the church. No real opportunity for prayer and seeking God in this environment.

Sunday after Sunday, year after year, and then we get to the point where we start thinking its more real for me to stay home, watch a sermon on TV and relax a be still before the Lord in my backyard watch the birds flying overhead and eating from the feeder. Sometimes we see more of God in nature than in the church in America. This why the baby Christian and unbeliever only attend on Christmas and Easter. I can relate.

I want to hear from God at church

Attend church in a persecuted foreign country, much different. True heart felt worshipful abandonment in song. Prayer time by the church crying out to God! The Word of God is held in the highest regard as folks are clinging to its every promise as they desperately need it! Faith is high. Expectations are high! They need God.

For sure there are many churches here in America that get it right. That is putting the focus on the Holy Spirit in worship and bringing an inspired message from the Word of God. Why are they successful you may ask? Because they have a spirit of humility before the Lord. They put their own ideas and words in the glass box that says “break only in case of emergency”.

Will God ever be mighty in my church service?

Of course mighty is a relative word to us all. However, let’s take a look at this. What would it be like if this happened.

1. Elders and leaders prayer and seek God during the week.
2. Worship leader met with team before Sunday morning service starts and pray.
3. Music team should have instrumental morning music playing as folks enter sanctuary.
4. Worship team lead congregation in 3 worship songs
5. Music team continues playing softly as elder comes to initiate and pray bless over the offering. Music team continues to play music softly as usher collect. No more words spoken.
6. Worship team lead congregation 2 more praise songs.
7. Pastor/minister comes to stage and greets congregation then gets right into heart of message. Preaches the Word of God and concludes.
8. Worship team returns and plays softly.
9. Elder comes and ministers in prayer/salvation call to alter.
10. Church prays as worship team plays instrumentally.
11. Elder concludes prayer time.
12. Minister comes and gives very brief announcements and points any further interest to info table in back or church website.
13. Pastor returns and gives benediction over congregation
14. Worship team plays upbeat song as congregation leaves sanctuary.
15. People meet in lobby for coffee and chat with church laptopss available for viewing church website for activities.

Are we seeking God in prayer during the week praying, worshipping, fasting and humbling ourselves before the mighty hand of God. If we will then,…God will show up.

Announcements, activities and extra stuff is for social aspects of church. They should be put at the end of service, in their proper place way after putting God first. Many churches need to ‘humble’ their Sunday service and put God first! And their own agenda last (men’s breakfast, outings, youth car wash, children’s activities, clothing drive, women’s bible study, etc.)