If I weren’t a regular church go-er due to my lack of love for Jesus, but went on Easter Sunday out of some obligation, I’d more than likely be uncomfortable and not return.
The beautiful clothes. The almost-plastic, smiling faces. The full parking lot and sanctuary. The specially-designed service intended to target me. The worship music everybody seems to know. The raised hands. The uncomfortable silence among strangers while one man tells the crowd his interpretation of the Bible I barely read. The dose of guilt tacked on to the sermon intended to make me want to return next week.
Even if the message were one of hope, I’d feel certain it wouldn’t apply to me.
I’d need a personal relationship. I’d need someone to be to me the hands and feet of Jesus. I’d need you to tell me your personal story of how Jesus stepped into your mess with you, and rescued you. I’d need to know how He loved you when you were unloveable…because I’d need to know He could do the same for me.
And even then, that might not be enough for me to love Jesus.
Maybe I’d just need to know you’d love me whether I attend church or love Jesus.
So, no, I probably wouldn’t return to church until next Easter when I would, once again, feel obligated to attend.
 
 
I find this a thought-provoking post, yet a sad one. It helps me to see it from another side, and I appreciate that and will take note, but I truly hope that this is not how we portray our love for Christ and for Easter to visitors. We attend a very friendly church, where I feel we reach out with the warmth of Christ to the newcomer and make strangers feel welcomed and loved. I felt that our pastor reached out in a special way in his sermon and hopefully engaged the visitor, encouraging him to come back and learn more about our Savior, rather than making him feel guilty about not having attended church for a year. I guess it depends on where you go and who is there, and how the love of Christ is extended . . . or not. I appreciate the warning, though. Thank you, Rebekah.
Lynn
As a choir member, I had the opportunity to be in 3 of our 4 services yesterday. I watched faces in the crowd. I stayed through the third service, which was filled to capacity {this being a huge church}, and started observing people around me. I began to wonder how I’d feel if I didn’t love Jesus and didn’t go to church. I tried to put myself in those shoes. I’m so used to all that takes place in church, all those things I mentioned in the post, and wondered if outsiders saw them as strange. Perhaps, I shouldn’t be so accustomed to some of those things. I think all of it is done with the best of intentions, but I can’t help but wonder how Easter-Sunday visitors perceive it all. I wonder if they feel targeted. I would. Simply my observations…and I will admit to being skeptical and cynical. 😉
No, I think what you are doing is a very good thing. We *must* put ourselves in others’ shoes. We *must* quesiton how we are coming across and make alterations if need be. You are good to perceive how others might feel. All the more, I think we need to try to be loving and gracious. My mind is in a fog. I’m come home from surgery and am very dizzy (a dizzy broad!), so I’m not expressing myself well. But I love that you consier others, Rebekah.
love
lynn