5 bad reasons to attend a church!

Not trying to be mean, just calling believers to be committed to Christ's church for the right reasons!

1.       I/my family have always gone there.

It is not necessarily bad to attend a church that you or your family has attended for a long time. However, this motivation is not adequate if you haven’t personally committed to love the people who are there now unconditionally, to submit to the current leadership and to seek how you can help the church change as the word and Spirit leads. In Acts 2 it describes the believer’s commitment to the church like this:

Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. They “continued steadfastly” means they continually devoted themselves. If you are continually devoting yourself to your church (teaching, prayer, fellowship, Lord’s Supper, etc.), because it is what God would have you do, then whether it is your first day or your family founded the church, you have a motivation that will bless both you and the church!

2.       I think the people are nice there.

Who doesn’t like to be around nice people and Christians should be nice, so what’s the problem? God’s word teaches us how to respond when people aren’t nice (sin) and if we are seeking niceness, we won’t see their un-niceness as an opportunity for God to work, but as a reason for us to find a nicer church.  

See -

Matt. 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matt. 18:15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Matt. 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Matt. 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Sin and conflict will happen to us and be caused by us, the question is will we respond as God says and grow as He works in our lives and the church or leave because they weren’t nice?

3.       I really feel good when I go there.

This may mean church is fun, entertaining or just gives us a warm fuzzy feeling when we attend. While all could be OK as experiences at church, they are terrible motivations to attend a church. Why are fun, entertainment and/or “warm fuzzies” a bad motivation to attend a church, because Christ’s church is very serious business.

Paul said this about His ministry to the church and to warn the future church:

Acts 20:26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

We are told:

Eph. 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Phil. 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Clearly we shouldn’t be asking is church fun, entertaining or making us feel good, but is the entire word being taught, are we taking the Gospel to others lest they perish and are we living out our faith in a careful and serious way.

4.       I don’t like this church as it is, but I am staying because I am either too stubborn to leave or too afraid to go elsewhere.

If you feel the church has fallen prey to un-biblical leadership and are staying to address it in a way consistent with the Bible, see Matt. 18:15ff. above, then it may be right to stay. However, if you are staying to be a thorn in the side of the church leaders or to fight against things you just don’t like, be very careful:

Jude 1:16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. 17 But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 18 how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. 19 These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.

5.       I don’t want to lose the benefits I have earned over the years there.

Many churches have cemeteries, fellowship halls or even gyms to benefit members and/or the community. They may also have programs that reward years of service or meet very practical needs that might otherwise be met by a child care facility, hobby or club. It may be hard to let go of these things and choose to leave, but if they are all that is keeping you there, you need to re-commit for the right reasons or leave for everyone’s good. Some of these extra benefits churches have gotten involved in can be helpful, but clearly the Bible never envisioned people being committed to Christ's church for any reward/reason other than a love for the Lord, His word and the fellowship of believers. Getting another year’s service pin, a cemetery plot or getting to spend fun time with some friends may be OK, but they are very poor substitutes for a proper Biblical commitment to the church.

1 Cor. 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."