May 2018 Branches_web

SOUTHWOOD
ASK A PASTOR
Q
When
Church
is
Boring
by Derrick Harris
So, I know that God is
overwhelming, but does that mean
if I don't feel overwhelmed in church
that his presence isn't really there,
or that I'm just not feeling him?
A
Great question. I've definitely asked myself
this question before. You have reason to be
encouraged because hiding underneath your
question is the desire to experience God and the
desire to be near him. Both desires are very good
things. I also realize that every situation is unique and that this
response may need to be more complex but in short, my response
to your question is NO.
Why? It’s important to remember that God IS love and also that
God is not a feeling, much like love in marriage is a commitment.
The “feeling” of love is not a constant feeling but rather a
constant commitment to another person. Feelings are a part
of love but they are not the whole. Sometimes true love means
that we must do things that don’t “feel” so great. One example
is holding our loved ones in the hospital while they hurt. It’s
still love (commitment), but it doesn't necessarily "feel" like an
overwhelming happiness.
Many times, we tend to view our relationship with God through
the lens of feeling as opposed to commitment. Let’s be honest,
church services can be downright boring sometimes, but that
doesn't mean that God isn't real, present, or at work. How do I
know this? The Bible tells me so.
1Cor. 6:19: Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your
own
Matt 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there
am I among them.”
When the "temples" gather together, God is there! Feelings or
not.
Pop quiz: Can you think of a time in history when God was present
and active but it didn’t “feel” that way? Answer: When Christ died
on the cross! Everyone thought that everything had gone wrong.
They asked, “Where is God? He can’t even save his own son?”
Even his disciples scattered and hid. But God was very present.
On the cross, God the Father was at work reconciling all believers
to himself through the death of God the Son, Jesus Christ, and
it was proven when Jesus rose from the dead three days later.
Now, Jesus has given us God the Holy Spirit who knits our souls
together to him forever as we receive the gift of salvation through
faith alone. Nothing can separate us from his love and presence,
for he now lives inside us; we are his temples. One of my favorite
songs by Steven Curtis Chapman helps me rehearse this truth to
my forgetful self when he sings, “We are your sons, we are your
daughters, Hallelujah we are who you say we are!”
Some practical encouragements in light of God’s strength:
1. Ask God to provide you with a new perspective when you
attend church. Try to find a place to serve within your church
outside of the worship service. See if it makes a difference.
2. Go do something outside of your comfort zone regarding
service with family or friends. For example, spend time serving
someone together or helping out your neighbor in a way that
requires you to sacrifice some of your schedule. Together, try to
find a way to bless someone else and commit to pray for them the
entire time that you're serving them. See if it helps.
3. Remember that you're normal and not alone. If you're in
Christ, you can call God your Father and talk to him about anything.
You can certainly talk to him about your feeling that church is
becoming boring to you. Try talking to him about it and then share
your thoughts with someone that you trust as well. What God is
teaching you just might be a gift and blessing to someone else.
MAY 2018 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 5