Why We Go to Church

I read a post from this guy this morning and it got me thinking about a few things. I think it is safe to say the church has a bad rap for a long line of things. I think most of you would agree that the current generation of church goers and post-modern thinkers are trying to change that. One of those "things" being church attendance. I'm all for getting people in the door to let them hear a message that might change their life. But, I believe, in the last few years, church attendance has become the point. As much as we say, "It's not about checking Sunday mornings off your list," deep down, people in my faith heritage say things like, "How can we get them to come on Sunday or Wednesday nights. I'm worried about them." Maybe you're not "worried" about them, but even as a minister, I look at the people that come consistently on Sunday nights as stronger christians and those that don't the "weaker brother." Maybe this paradigm is true in some sense. But, I believe, the reason this idea is still prevalent is because the church has failed at teaching people to seek God on their own. Here's what I'm not saying. I'm not saying that the church doesn't help people to grow spiritually. I'm not saying the church doesn't provide a place for the family of God to lift each other up. These are the questions you should ask yourself. Do I go to church to escape seeking God on my own? Do I go to church so I can feel good about my christian walk? Do I go to church solely relying on the experience I have there to change me? Ironically, I think it becomes really easy for the Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday church goer to become stagnant in their faith. So, really, why do you go to church?