church hopping. « life is worth living

church hopping.

this has always puzzled me. im not sure why. granted i have been a member of one church all my life. as a child i was member at first baptist rosenberg. when i went to college, i attended other churches simply b/c i played drums in a worship band, but i was still a member at first rosenberg. now i serve as minister to students and young singles at first rosenberg. i am confident that God has called me to serve here and i am seeing the fruits that God is working in some of our students. it is truly an amazing sight.

but what causes people to church hop? i know it is the simple answer that the church isn’t offering what they want. the church isn’t offering enough programs. the church isn’t meeting my needs.

i know this is a generic post. a topic that has been discussed more than once, but it is on my mind.

do church members church hop b/c as church staff members (universally speaking) we have failed to teach them about the church? have we failed to teach them what the purpose of the church is? have we failed to teach them our relation, as believers, to the church? or have we been faithful to teach but church members just don’t listen? im sure it is both. i know i have probably not taught the youth their relationship to the church as good as i could have. but i will fall on the fact that we are selfish people. all of us.

yesterday our pastor preached on the tongue. one of the things that stuck out to me was james 3:8-10

With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessing out of the same mouth! - The Message

now because i am of selfish nature, im certain i have forgotten this at least once already today. my point exactly. we (believers) want church to be about us. im so guilty. we (believers) want the music to be louder or quieter. we (believers) want to sing from hymnals and not the screen. we (believers) want lights to be on not off, bright not dim.

i want jesus. whether its hymnals or screens. loud or quiet music. i want jesus.

jesus i want you more than anything in the world. far more than my silly human desires.