6 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Attend Church

How important is Church attendance?

Well, I believe one of the places which helps an individual to achieve his or her dream is the Church. Not just because it is a place of worship but also because it is a place where you get motivated, discover your purpose, and release your passion. It is a place to help you set your vision and mission, and inspire you to achieve your life goals.

While church attendance is growing rapidly in some places across the world, the need for regular church attendance is enormous. Church provides you with a healthy community – which we all need.

Since I was a little boy all I’ve known is church. My family has a very strong Christian heritage.  In all honesty, church attendance was more out of a sense of religious obligation – ‘fulfilling all righteousness’, you might say. Trust me, sometimes even I got fed up with all the “churching”.

6 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Attend Church

If you are thinking of attending church or you are a church goer, here are my 6 reasons to evaluate your commitment and agenda when it comes to church attendance, on Sundays or any other day.

1. Attending church as a religious duty

Church attendance doesn’t make you God’s favoured and beloved. It’s more than that. Any time you attend church make sure you get a character growth boost. Character makes the person, not the church.

2. Attending church only when you have a problem

There are many people who attend church only when the money is dry, the house has been repossessed, or their health is deteriorating. It is good to attend church and seek God’s face in a time of distress. He is always ready to help you. But you also need to show a degree of faithfulness and commitment to adopt a truly Christian lifestyle in all areas of your life.

3. Attending church as a social event

Yes, some do this all the time. Wearing their Sunday best and flaunting like a peacock. Well, I will advise you to try the Oscars or Metro FM Awards Red Carpet if all you are interested in is looking for compliments. It’s great to look and feel great, but if you are just fishing for attention, don’t go to church.

4. Attending church to score a husband or wife

This is very popular with some single people. They attend church just to get hitched and after that, they go AWOL. Over and over again many lives have been broken because of wrong spousal choices that emanated from falling for someone who is not meant for you. Let God do the mate picking for you.

5. Attending church to network and get business deals

This has become a growing trend due to the rich and diverse human and financial resources residing in churches. I am not saying don’t network or share ideas and plans, but is that your main reason? Remember Jesus kicked out unscrupulous business moguls out of the temple! Be careful, the church is not the New York, London or Johannesburg stock exchange.

6. Attending church because of guilt and condemnation

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus”.

Your consistent church attendance won’t take away the guilt from past mistakes. God desires that your past be covered by His forgiveness and grace. You need to accept and believe what He says. Get out of religion into relationship, out of the law into grace. It will help you grow into a true disciple and you will experience a healthy self image.

I am not trying to judge anyone but just sharing from what I have observed and heard. We need to choose which side of the coin we want to be on. There is no neutral zone.

Your dreams are valid

Jacob dreamt of a ladder going up into the heavens. Joseph dreamt of the sun and moon and eleven stars bowing to his star. Daniel and Ezekiel had visions of things to come. God specialises in dreams. He also specialises in character development, and that is what the church is for – to build Christ’s character in you so that your dreams become reality.

What are your reasons for attending church?