Does Church Matter Anymore?

"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Heb. 10:24-25)

For many of us church life has likely been about "doing church" most of our lives. We go to Church services, attend Bible studies, work on committees, and a variety of other things, including ministries. And yet in our day, church attendance as a whole is decreasing, and while sociologists tell us that spiritual interest is at an all time high, people do not see the importance of church.

Maybe that is because we lost sight of the fact that it is not to be about "Doing church" but about being the church. Relating to Christ first, and then to the members of His body in such a way that church is real, and vibrant, the living organism that God desires. Our responsibility is not to be about building churches (the group, not the building.) That is Jesus's responsibility. He said, "I will build my church."

Our call is to be disciples and then to make disciples. A part of being a disciple is connecting to the body, belonging to local expressions of the church, particularly in small cell groups. The purpose of being together is to encourage one another to love and good works, says the scripture above.

Maybe when we focus on being the church, instead of doing church, the world will see the church as significant and relevant once again. When people that don't know God see that we are genuine and real, they will be attracted to the Christ who lives in our hearts.