– 37 Ways

There are seasons in the life when a Christian just needs to “Be” rather than “Do.” Likewise there are periods of time when it is better to just listen rather than speak, or receive rather than give. Certainly there are times when it is more appropriate to just observe in order to better learn. Then, especially if you are spiritually hurting or soul-sick, there is simply, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Life is full of stresses, strains, and struggles that affect your Church life. However, when seasons become year-round, or times becomes all the-time, then you have to ask yourself if you have slipped back into just “Doing Church”; going through the motions of being a religious person. Bored? Listen, it’s not always about the sermon! 

Just Doing Church – What is it? Here are some random, boring, ways that come to mind:

  • Going to church rather than being the church.
  • Showing up for the worship service just before “it starts”, with no prayerful preparation.
  • Sitting in the same place every Sunday, rather than intentionally choosing a different seat.
  • Leaving the worship service without intentionally meeting someone new to you.
  • Trying to accomplish a month’s worth of ministry in one monthly committee meeting.
  • “Worship” on Sunday then “booking it,” not staying to intentionally engage with others.
  • Calling “fellowship” the 15 minutes you socialize before or after “church” over coffee.
  • Annually “filling slots” for ministry roles or positions on committees.
  • The same 20% of the people doing what the other 80% “don’t have time to do.”
  • Having a speculation mentality rather than participation mindset.
  • Focus on what you can get out of the worship service rather than what you can give in it.
  • Just talking with people you know at church (some label that a clique).
  • Saying “I’ll pray for you,” and then never doing it and following up.
  • “Supporting” The Ministry rather than doing some of the ministry.
  • Smiling at the children underfoot rather than taking time to know them.
  • Being bothered the pastor walked past without noticing while you pass others unaware.
  • Singing worship songs from your head but not worshipping from your heart.
  • Expectation for what will happen rather than expectancy that God will happen.
  • Committee meetings with no prayer, but “an opener” asking God to bless it.
  • Plans with no prayer.
  • Programs with no prayer.
  • People with no prayer.
  • Prayer meetings with no people!
  • Expecting “someone else” will do it.
  • Expecting the pastor or staff to do it.
  • Maintaining the church ministry with no clear vision for the ministry.
  • Building acquaintances rather than relationships.
  • Saying, “there are so many people here I don’t know!” but doing nothing about it.
  • Considering the Sunday sermon to be your only spiritual food.
  • Being entertained and informed rather than equipped and transformed.
  • Contentment with obedient tokenism rather than yearning for cheerful giving or tithing.
  • Sharing personal information or discontent about someone else as “a prayer concern.”
  • Justifying “little sins” with, “After all, we’re only human!”
  • Restricting the move of the Holy Spirit to the move of the clock. (Who’s time schedule?)
  • Continually failing to miss those missing among the usual worshippers.
  • Having faith in security and not security in faith.
  • Accepting the status quo rather than anticipating the supernatural.

If any of these apply to you, could it be that you are “Just Doing Church”? In my years serving as a Pastor, I often declared to the Body of Christians gathered together, “We are not about ‘Just Doing Church!’’”Yet the assumption was that we all understood what that meant! Perhaps upon looking at the list of thirty-seven ways above (and adding a few of your own) there may be a better understanding or a fresh awareness for us all.

Now as a mentor of pastors I am more painfully aware, that if we all are not careful, making a difference in the world can deteriorate to making time in church. Faith can become so much “religion.” The life in Christ can become merely an empty ritual. Indeed, this is a challenge from parishioner to pastor. If anyone from the “outside” were to ask any one of us what we are doing here, may the answer never be “Just Doing Church.” As the saying goes, We don’t “do” church, we “are” the church! Only then will others want to join us in the endeavor. So may it be.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer… praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
~ Acts 2:42-47 NIV

—RWO/MAST