Why we stopped going to church!

We decided to stop GOING to church. Well, at least church as we know it. You see, we believe that the church is the body of believers and not a building and that following Jesus is all about the personal relationship He wants with us and not about religion. Scott and I have been doing church a little differently than most. We have church right in our home. Some of you, while reading that last sentence may get a little uncomfortable but please hear me out. It is actually very biblical and is used in the mission field all over the world. Read Acts 2:42-47. This is the model for our church. We also strive to live the gospel daily. GCsquared is how we refer to this type of living. The Great Commandment¹ and the Great Commission² - Love God, Love People, Go and make Disciples.

As a church, our family has a heart for all those who have not yet heard about Jesus. With all the unrest and chaos in the world, we wanted to reach out to our neighbors and spread some love. If anyone knows Scott, you would know that he loves to cook BBQ! So, we decided to feed people! We set up at an intersection near St. Andrews Circle and handed out pulled pork sandwiches and chips. Scott made a huge sign saying “FREE BBQ”. People had trouble with this! One lady yelled out of her car window, “how free is it?” We yelled back, “free, free, free, free”! (thanks TurboTax commercial!) How true of a question was that though? Of course people assumed that we had come with an agenda (which we did) but not the one they thought. The first question that people asked as they approached the table was, “who are you with?” or “what church is putting this on?”. Our answer - “none”, except Jesus. Wait? What? (record needle scratch!) We explained that we simply wanted to love our neighbor as Jesus did. Offering them some of Scott’s delicious BBQ was a way to bring love into this neighborhood in a way that we knew how.

Immediately, we saw walls crumble, barriers broken and hearts opened. One guy asked if he could come to “our type of church” and that this was something he wanted for his daughter. One lady wanted to know more and said that she had been living her life all wrong. A repentant man, recently released from prison and had come to know the Lord said that he had been praying for Godly people to worship with and prayed over us in Hebrew! Another man wept as he asked up to pray for his marriage that was crumbling and for his sons who despite his best efforts are running the streets. Two young mothers said that the food and prayer made them so happy and their day was made better.

We prayed with people, asked people how they were doing and listened to them, laughed with them, shared with them, loved them. Some came just for the food and that was ok too. I’m not sharing this story to brag about what we have done. We have done nothing. Our family is being transformed by the love of Jesus and I want to share that. We are moved to do something, anything that will introduce people to who Jesus really is and explain what He did for us. While on Earth, he led a sinless life despite temptation from the devil. He moved and WENT to people, where the Spirit led Him, to heal, forgive, love, redeem and feed. He met people exactly where they were at the moment. He came to the poor, sick, widowed, hopeless and broken. Why did Jesus GO to these people? In biblical times, people who were labeled sick, poor or broken were ostracized, sent away to live in another place, and were treated less than human. How is it any different now? Would a prostitute feel comfortable coming to church? A thief? An adulterer? NO! People who are broken hide, in seclusion, or with others who are broken as well! Especially in our culture today. What happens in the dark stays in the dark. Jesus came to be the light and show broken people a way out by coming to them!

He comes to us now if we are willing to accept Him. The truth is that we are all broken by sin! God cannot be close to sin so He sent Jesus to come and rescue us! Jesus died for us, paying the penalty of our sin by His death. Jesus was then raised from the dead to show His victory over sin and death and to provide the only way for us to be rescued and restored to a relationship with God. When we stop trusting in ourselves and realize the need for rescuing we can ask forgiveness of our sins and trust in Jesus instead.

As Christians, we are called to GO! Jesus came to Earth, went to others, went to the cross for us and still comes to us when we ask. He pursues us! So, as followers of Christ, our family is choosing to GO as Jesus did and to pursue others by sharing the love of Jesus in all the ways we know how. If you do not know Christ, GO to Him and just ask Him to Come to you. He will!

¹Matthew 22:36-40

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

²Matthew 28:19-20

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”