Connections - With the Community

How many of you have heard someone say - "I can believe in Jesus and not go to church."?    Almost every Pastor I know when they hear this simply roll their eyes to the back of their heads and walk away.  It is seemingly a death sentence to a conversation.  Because it is so simple it seems to be true.  "Yes, you can," we tend to mutter and give up hopelessly as their is no seemingly good answer.  But we know better.  We know that this person's belief is short term if it is real at all.  We know that the person uttering these words are still focused on themselves and their world.   We know that in all reality, the person uttering these words are afraid of being connected - or are asking you to challenge them enough to help them WANT to be connected.  To give them a good enough WHY to be connected - and ultimately - the HOW to be connected.  I say this because even non-beleivers are wanting to be connected, wanting to have relationships that really matter.

Almost every person I have ever met WANTS to be connected to others in their heart of hearts.  That is because we are created to be in relationship with others.  No one is created in or for isolationism.  No one comes into the family of God by themselves and staying there all alone is impossible too.

There are also some  great advantages for being in the body of Christ - and these should be shared.  Like:

1.  being connected to the church identifies you as a genuine believer.
2.  being connected to the church moves you out of self-centered isolationism.
3.  being connected to the church helps you develop spiritual muscle

Each of these is true.  Being in the community call the Church identifies you as a real believer - it means you belong to the family - you are one of the "in" crowd.  You belong to a group - not just to yourself - that life isn't really just about you, your desires, your goals, your dreams.  And in the body of Christ you can train together to grow stronger.  You can pray together, worship together, study together, grow together.

There is something else.  Not only do you need the body, not only do you need the church -  the church needs you.  That's right - the church needs you.  Your gifts, your talents, your love, your gifts - and more.

Get connected - its good for you - and for the church!

Pastor David