I realize the title is a bit controversial, but I want to get y’all thinking, so bear with me. I have been In Guatemala for 3 weeks and I have not gone to a Sunday church service yet. I know, some people might think, heathen, sinner, repent, get back in the church… heck, I’d probably be saying that just a few months ago, maybe a year or two ago, but not anymore. Why you might ask? Because church is NOT a building, it is not Sunday morning worship, it is not a pastor or a sermon, it is the people! Yes, Sunday morning worship has long been considered part of church (depending on scholarly position it is believed to have started anywhere from immediately after Christ’s resurrection to as late as the 4th century or so), BUT, what I have realized this month is that it is truly the community that matters. I don’t feel spiritually deprived from missing a few Sundays, i actually probably feel stronger spiritually than i have in awhile because I am in true church community. The 55 people on my squad have worshipped together, rejoiced together, cried together, seen miracles, shared meals, taken Communion, we have done everything a church does and more so because we are in daily community. My squad, we are a church, and my team, we are a mini-church, a small group, within the church. Now, I am NOT saying that you can just not go to church on Sundays because that is when most churches have community, but what I am saying is that church is not restricted to Sundays nor is Sunday attendance exclusive and required in order to be a Christian.
Look at Acts 2:42-47, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
This passage says nothing about meeting on Sunday, it says they met daily. We often miss that in the US. We focus all of our energy on Sunday morning and do not bother with community the other 6 days of the week. Sure, this is not always true, but how many people only show up to church on Sunday and think that is good enough, that they will receive eternal life. There is more to the Gospel than eternal life. The Gospel is about bringing the Kingdom of God to Earth today and everyday. It is about being freed from the chains of bandage that hold us back and ensnare us. It is about living as Christ lived on Earth. It is about being redeemed and renewed (see my previous blog). It is about being a blessing to people around you. And this looks so different throughout the world. Jesus remains the same, God remains the same, the Spirit is the same, but how it looks and even how God chooses to manifest Himself in different cultures and to different people, those things change. Sunday church isn’t enough, and I’m going to be bold enough to say that it isn’t even a part of the Christian faith, being In community with other believers, that is the Christian church, that is crucial to the Christian faith, so make sure you are plugged into a community, be involved, don’t let your faith stagnate, don’t believe the lie that Sunday church is enough for salvation. The church is important but the time or place does not matter. It’s about people, it’s about relationships, starting with God and then flowing into other people, it is about The Church, the universal, apostolic church, but it is not about a Sunday worship service. Be in community, love the Creator, and love that which He created.
