Our Stories
A Religious Experience
By Mark Lanum | posted 10/25/2007
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)
Standing on the street corner with a co-worker I didn't really expect the topic of church attendance to come up. We had been discussing homes and the various joys and challenges of home ownership. But then she brought up the fact that she and her husband "simply just want to get out of the house every Sunday morning to go hiking." In a quick moment, she caught herself saying something that she thought might offend me.
Most everyone I work with knows that I used to be a youth pastor and as such, I get the usual set of "oh yeah, I go to church" and "Sure, I'm a Christian, too" comments. But what this particular person said to cover the fact that she doesn't, in fact, go to church, made me think a bit more deeply about myself. After her comment about going hiking every Sunday morning, she paused, then added, "Because I think being in the out of doors is itself a religious experience."
A "religious experience..."
Is that what church is? Is that what she thought was my reason for going to church? IS that why I go to church?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I do not go to church to have a "religious experience." To be honest, I am not sure I would know it if I was having a "religious experience." Still, it's a phrase I've heard often enough to conclude that most people think they know what one is. But, that's not my point anyway.
My point is to answer the question: why do I go to church? I think over the years the underlying motivation for my attendance has changed with my season of life (my parents took me, my friends were there, I worked there, etc.). Most recently, however, I have realized that I go to church because surrounding myself with others who believe that God is real, helps balance out the days I spend with those who think who think He's not; to help offset the influence of those who think Jesus is some dead guy that started a religion adhered to by annoying, self-righteous, right-wing voters. For me, church is the place where I am reminded: I'm not the only one who "believes this stuff."
My guess is that I am not the only one who lives and works in an environment filled with folks who don't share a love for Jesus Christ. Seems Christians for centuries have needed to get together with each other just to be encouraged by the presence of other folks who also believed Jesus.
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Apparently, some of their number had given up the practice of meeting for mutual encouragement and were reverting back to their old Jewish traditions. Even way back in the day people had to be reminded that getting together wasn't about having a "religious experience." It's about encouraging one another by the simple fact that we're not alone in our faith. This is so that we'll stick with Jesus, even in the face of a world that has dropped Him in favor of "religious experiences."
So while others may be spending their Sunday mornings having a "religious experience" I'll happily settle for getting together with Jesus and his peeps. Besides, I can go for a hike another day - which means that I can have a "religious experience" just about any time I want!
To respond to this message, email Mark at marklanum@gmail.com.
Hebrews 10:25
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"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) Standing on the street corner with a co-worker I didn't really expect the topic of church attendance to come up. We had been discussing homes and the various joys and challenges of home ownership. But then she brought up the fact that she and her husband "simply just want to get out of the house every Sunday morning to go hiking." In a quick moment, she caught herself saying something that she thought might offend me. Most everyone I work with knows that I used to be a youth pastor and as such, I get the usual set of "oh yeah, I go to church" and "Sure, I'm a Christian, too" comments. But what this particular person said to cover the fact that she doesn't, in fact, go to church, made me think a bit more deeply about myself. After her comment about going hiking every Sunday morning, she paused, then added, "Because I think being in the out of doors is itself a religious experience." A "religious experience..." Is that what church is? Is that what she thought was my reason for going to church? IS that why I go to church? The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I do not go to church to have a "religious experience." To be honest, I am not sure I would know it if I was having a "religious experience." Still, it's a phrase I've heard often enough to conclude that most people think they know what one is. But, that's not my point anyway. My point is to answer the question: why do I go to church? I think over the years the underlying motivation for my attendance has changed with my season of life (my parents took me, my friends were there, I worked there, etc.). Most recently, however, I have realized that I go to church because surrounding myself with others who believe that God is real, helps balance out the days I spend with those who think who think He's not; to help offset the influence of those who think Jesus is some dead guy that started a religion adhered to by annoying, self-righteous, right-wing voters. For me, church is the place where I am reminded: I'm not the only one who "believes this stuff." My guess is that I am not the only one who lives and works in an environment filled with folks who don't share a love for Jesus Christ. Seems Christians for centuries have needed to get together with each other just to be encouraged by the presence of other folks who also believed Jesus.
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Apparently, some of their number had given up the practice of meeting for mutual encouragement and were reverting back to their old Jewish traditions. Even way back in the day people had to be reminded that getting together wasn't about having a "religious experience." It's about encouraging one another by the simple fact that we're not alone in our faith. This is so that we'll stick with Jesus, even in the face of a world that has dropped Him in favor of "religious experiences." So while others may be spending their Sunday mornings having a "religious experience" I'll happily settle for getting together with Jesus and his peeps. Besides, I can go for a hike another day - which means that I can have a "religious experience" just about any time I want! To respond to this message, email Mark at marklanum@gmail.com. |
