Don’t Go To Church
by Pastor Chris, November 2017

Don’t go to church
Be the church
Stop attending a service

Once or twice a month
Or even thrice or more
Stop attending and rather gather

Collect with the “also called”
Join in their songs and chants and prayers
Offer up your own

Bring with you Christ
And as the church reforms
Every Sunday, a great mystery you will see

God with us: proclaimed, professed, possessed.
A family of “also called” sinners becomes a radiant bride.
So don’t settle to go to church
Watching, attending, observing, critiquing

Rather be, remain, and reform weekly or more
The mysterious gathering of little Christ-ones
That reconstitute his collected body, his rebuilt temple, his restored family
The group of misfit rebels, sinners, and malcontents
That the Father called, the Son redeemed, the Holy Spirit sealed.

Come rejoice and worship. Come greet and embrace. Come expect divine engagement because the “also called” ones have reconvened.

Don’t settle for going to church this Sunday.
Jesus didn’t die for that.

But he did die for those he “also called” friends.
Even me. Even you.

I’ll see you when we gather next
together his body, his bride, his people.