Before We Say It, He Said It Series

Please open your Bibles to Ephesians 5, as we begin a new series called “I Love My Church.”

You know, our lives are basically made up of two different kinds of places. There are places we have to go, and there are places we get to go. School. That’s a have to go place, isn’t it? Although, after the kind of year we’ve had, it was kind of cool to hear kids talking about “getting” to go back to school again.

Disney World. That’s a “get to go” place isn’t it? A cruise. The beach. All get to go places.

A college football game. That’s a “get to go” experience. Unless you’re a Missouri fan, and you got Alabama as your first game this season. Sorry, Kim.

What about some “have to go” places? I’m going to put an image of a place up on the screen, and I want you to say the first word that comes to mind about how people typically feel in regard to having to go to these locations. Give me a word.

• 1st image: DMV Definitely a “have to go” place. It’s an obligation to fulfill. Nobody looks forward to going to the DMV, but we all know we have to, at least once every so often. We need to get our license renewed. We need to pay our vehicle registration. But once we fulfill that obligation, we don’t even think about the DMV again.

• 2nd image: Doctor’s office: Again, probably not on anyone’s top ten list of preferred destinations. Sometimes we go for a regular checkup. Sometimes we go because we are in pain, or something isn’t working right. Our hope is that there’s going to be a pill or a shot or a cream that will make the problem go away. Or maybe the doctor will recommend a lifestyle change, or more exercise, or whatever. We dread hearing that there is a major diagnosis, but most of us will listen to the doctor and do what it takes to make the problem go away.

• 3rd image: Grocery store: How about this one? Actually, there are some times that I really enjoy going to the grocery store. (Trish is looking at me like, “Really?” I think she just took a note). But no, I’m serious—if there’s a special recipe that I want to try, I like shopping for the ingredients. I like the spice aisle. But… yeah. Most of the time this is just another place that we have to go because we know we need to eat. We know we can’t go without food, so we have to shop. We have to prepare. And if you’re a parent, you have to provide for your kids.

So you look at these three, and before you say, “Yeah, I know where he’s going with this: Is church a “Get to go” place, or is it a “have to go” place. Think about it:

• Is church like the DMV for you? An obligation to fulfill? A box that you check off once a week? Or once a month? Or twice a year?

• Is church like a visit to the doctor for you? A place you go to solve a problem or treat a condition? Where the doctor makes you feel guilty for something you’re doing too much or not enough of, and tries to scare you with the terrible consequences if you don’t listen to his advice?

• Is church a place you go because you you know you need nourishment from God’s Word. Or even if you don’t feel like you do, you go so your kids can learn about Jesus?

So you are probably saying, ok, I get it. These are all bad reasons to go to church. And actually, they’re not that bad.

We do have an obligation to fulfill by coming to church. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.

We do have a condition that needs to be treated. We have a congenital birth defect called sin that, if left untreated, is fatal. We know that from Romans 6:23. But church is the place where we learn about the cure.

We do have a hunger that can must be satisfied. Amos 8:11 describes a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. And a church that is faithfully, consistently preaching and teaching God’s Word can satisfy that famine like nothing else.

So none of these are bad reasons for coming to church. And even if they were, I’m pretty sure I’d rather have you show up for church for the wrong reason than not show up at all.