Where Are You Going to Church?

On May 5, 2023, more than three years after COVID-19 was designated a pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to the global Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19. It’s now May 2024, a year out of the pandemic…where are you going to church?

Have you returned to regular church attendance? If you have, well done and thank you! If not, should I assume that you’re still committed to online church gatherings, or is it something else?

Evaluating Your Church Attendance

• Have you replaced church attendance with sleeping in, intending to catch church online, but rarely making it?
• Have you replaced church with recreation, hitting the trailhead early or securing an early tee time?
• Are you still in fear after all the vaccines and a plethora of masking options, or is it just easier to stay home?

Sorry if any of that stung a bit. Self-reflection can sting sometimes, but it helps us reestablish our priorities and our faithfulness.

Benefits of Church Attendance

Truth be told, you don’t HAVE to attend church. You’re free to worship Jesus in whatever way you feel called. The goal of this message isn’t to spur on guilt and obligation. (I’ve heard enough Hebrews 10:25 rebukes to last a lifetime! See yesterday’s post for details!)

Instead, I want you to be fully aware that you’re missing out. There are huge benefits from faithful church attendance, including increased intelligence, joy, humility, a better marriage and family life, better financial stability, and the list goes on.

Don’t believe me? You can read all about it in the linked article (and stats) by The Gospel Coalition, “9 Benefits of Faithful Church Attendance“. The evidence is clear that attending church regularly, even a couple of times per month, is good for you! The benefits are significant and worth committing to for your overall well-being.

Mental Health and Church Attendance

Furthermore, to address the increase in mental health struggles post-pandemic, according to Harvard, committing to a local church is a positive strategy.

“Religious service attendance is longitudinally associated with better mental health including approximately 20%-30% lower rates in the incidence of depression, and with 3-to-6-fold lower rates of suicide.”

“Religious Communities and Human Flourishing”, www.hsph.harvard.edu

If you’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed, lonely and depressed; the evidence shows that regular church attendance can make a real difference in your life!

Recommit to Church Attendance

It’s been over a year now. The risk of illness no longer outweighs the reward of connecting with your faith community. If you left, started watching online, but then just got used to Sunday mornings to yourself, it’s time to rethink that strategy.

It’s time to come back to church, and this Sunday is your Sunday to reengage.

To close, it seemed appropriate to end with a few key passages that outline the benefits and calls to action, which are deeply rooted in the commitment to and participation in the local church.

• “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16, ESV)
• “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” (Romans 12:10-11, ESV)
• “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)
• “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)

Now’s your time to return, reconnect, and re-engage with your faith community. Continue to grow in Christ, living out the Gospel mission, and supporting a local church to thrive in unity and fellowship.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

1. What has been your biggest challenge in returning to regular church attendance?
2. How has your faith community supported you during the pandemic?
3. What benefits have you experienced from attending church regularly?