Carlos Whittaker

Nov26

Did I Go To Church Yesterday?

Posted by loswhit in My Church

Yesterday I didn’t go to a church building.

Yesterday I spent 30 minutes in the word.

Yesterday I slept in till 11.

Yesterday I had fellowship with my wife and kids.

Yesterday I was in my pajamas until 2 pm.

Today I just admitted to wearing pajamas.

Yesterday one of my kids asked if we were “going to church today”.

Define something for me…
Did I go to church yesterday?

Los

http://thehigherplaces.wordpress.com Trae

Of course you did. Church isn’t about a building.
http://elgincombs.com Elgin

Yeah, you did. But what about your kids and wife?
http://longsleevesandchucks.wordpress.com Michelle

You didn’t go to church yesterday.

You experienced church.
L.

While meeting with fellow believers in worship is important, I know people who just about break their necks to get to church every Sunday (and Wednesday!) to “get their ticket punched.” Talk about legalistic! The moral of the story: no, there’s nothing wrong with missing every now and then. God’s much more interested in what’s in our hearts.
http://www.myworshiprevolution.com bobby

The bigger question really revolves around our language. Is “church” even something you can go to to begin with? Isn’t the church the people of God?

So did you gather with the church yesterday…I’d say no. But if you are living life regularly with a community of believers, sharing God’s word, hospitality, service, encouragement, etc., does it matter that much when you gather or if you miss one on occasion? Living life together in close proximity is a much more meaningful expression of the Church than making sure you go hear some music and a sermon once a week.
Thatdanbaker

What you did do was great. I’m not saying did anything wrong cause I don’t know your whole schedule, but I would say NO. You did not go to church. We can argue semantics about whether we need to “go to” church or experience it. Either way I think the standard would be an interaction with a community of believers. I think the bible is clear that your family is something different than a community; though an important part of it.

Now, i keep up on some your posts/tweets so I can see that you are regularly a part o the body of Christ. So in general, you’re probably good but I’d say that yesterday you didn’t go to church. (No judgment, just assessment)

Chad

What he said. What you did yesterday is no different than what you could have done on Saturday or any other day of the week. You didn’t assemble together corporately with a body of other Christians observing the Lord’s day and you presumably didn’t teach your family the Word but instead just read it to yourself.

You may have observed the Lord’s day with your family according to your own definition, but your daughter was correct to ask you if you were going to Church, and the correct answer is “no honey, we’re staying home today”.

That said, I’m not saying you didn’t worship or you were in gross sin… However, the question is “did I go to Church yesterday” and the answer is clearly “no”.

Is it better that way?
http://thenoisewithin.wordpress.com Jason

So when you say, “…in general, you’re probably good but I’d say that yesterday you didn’t go to church.” It sounds like if you check off enough boxes, then you’re good to go. (No judgment, just assessment)

Stephanie

You went to church. You just didn’t attend church.
MJT

In my opinon, No.
http://ourfamilye.wordpress.com me eliz

I think it’s funny how we get so wrapped around terms… since when did we become a law firm where how we word things makes a difference. No disrespect @Stephanie – but it’s funny how we say “You WENT to church but did not ATTEND church”. What’s the real difference in that? It’s like when people say “I’m not a Christian, I’m a Christ-follower”. i think you define the terms rather than the terms defining you. It’s like the difference between saying a boyfriend and girlfriend “going-out” or “dating” or “going-steady” or whatever your terminology is for that.

I just think it’s funny how we let those little things get in the way of what’s important.

I think that what you did as a family is awesome, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that (on the occasion). I do believe it is important to be in fellowship with a community of believers, and so I think it can be dangerous if we always tell ourselves we “did” church at home rather than “went” to a church building for worship. I also believe that family worship is something that should be done throughout the week…

Anyway.. my thoughts are kind of everywhere so this post probably doesn’t make a ton of sense… but those are my 2 cents.

http://www.myworshiprevolution.com bobby

Frankly, words do matter. I don’t think it’s about being a law firm. Our language reveals our presuppositions and in turn, the language we use or are taught often shape our beings and our beliefs as well, however unintentional or intentional it may be.

http://dirtygirlsministries.com Crystal Renaud

Unfortunately, in order to make ends meet, I had to take a job that requires me to work on Sundays. I haven’t been to a brick & mortar church building since early September. But I am in a LifeGroup and I attend church online or via Roku. I don’t think God cares what church looks like, as long as He’s still being glorified through our devotion to Him and our love of others.
Joel

After preaching in a “church” for the past 20 years, I finally realized that the most important flock I shepherd only has 4 members and sleeps under the same roof every night. You did you some church yesterday!!!i
Nick Laparra

We don’t go to church. We are the church.

What typically happens on a Sunday morning should be more appropriately called a gathering of the church. Or it should be called a family gathering. Jesus has clearly called us to be the church.

Rick

Agreed…how do you “go” to something you “are”?

Stephanie

To me eliz – in answer to your question, ” what is the difference?” I was refereeing to the phrase you hear a lot of music circles, when music takes you to a difference place emotionally. Some say “we went to church” (when listening to a piece of music) or “you took us to church” (said to the musicians)

To me the two are different in that attending church is sometimes rote – merely attending and not being present. In this case, Los went to church (i.e. to God in worship) and was present in his situation, but he didn’t merely attend church.
http://www.facebook.com/deniseobx Denise C. Duke

Church is “where 2 or 3 are gathered together in MY NAME, there I am in the midst of them.” I think a synagogue required 10. SO YOU ARE IN THE CLEAR CARLOS. Remember the Sabbath was created for man to rest! And you did just that!
http://brina-harwood.blogspot.com/ Brina

Last year, my 8 year old son said that he had a friend who’s mom would not let him go to church. He went on to say that he lead him and another friend in the prayer to ask Jesus into their hearts and now they have church at school. He explained “You can have church anywhere, Mom, we are the church.”

So, according to my son, yes, you had church at home, with your family, in your pj’s.
Catholic Homeschooling Mom

That is wonderful that you spent time sharing God’s word with your family. Fantastic that you are “hiding God’s Word in your heart.” I encourage you to Come Home. Home to Jesus in The Real Presence. The Eucharist. Go back 2000 years and come forward. You will truly find Him awaiting you in the tabernacle. Unless you Eat His Flesh And Drink His Blood you have no Life within you.
Come Home!
http://Www.alanstoddard.com Alan Stoddard

I agree with Nick. “Going to church” is a played out phrase that doesn’t mean what we say. I get the stay home routine. Get it. But, the alternative assumption, “gathering is not that important” and it associated actions —> life change in community –> well, you get it.
http://churchismessy.com Rick Henderson

Sounds like a, NO. I have no doubt that the local church is important to you. You’ve served in the local church and it seems like you spend a lot of time serving local churches and their leaders. Awesome!

I’m a pastor and I sometimes harbor a secret desire to just hang with the family on Sunday morning, instead of going to church. This is especially true when I’m on vacation.

There are at least 2 dangers. One is the temptation to redefine what church is so that I don’t feel guilty for staying home. Some of your readers have already done that in their comments.

The other danger is unintentionally communicating to our kids that we go to church when we are paid to go. I’m not accusing you or anyone else of anything, except for all the people I maligned for redefining church.

Seriously bro, you didn’t go to church. And I think you and most followers of Jesus know it. You’re fans will have a hard time admitting it because, well, they are fans. The real question is not, DID YOU GO TO CHURCH.

The real question is, WERE YOU WRONG FOR NOT GOING? So, which question do you really want answered.

https://twitter.com/JasonPCC Jason P

Great thoughts. I totally agree.

Carlos, did not go to church.

I am curious why it is that those answering “no” feel as if they have to give explanations, qualifiers, and pseudo apologies in their answer.

I understand there are some who want to poo poo going to church and downplay it’s significance…but does anyone thing that less people going to church is a good thing? Are we better off as a society because church attendance is down?

I know you are going to say “it isn’t about church, it is about Jesus!” But where did you learn about Jesus? Church is not the end all be all. It doesn’t save…but for most of us it was where we got connected to other people that God used to transform us in HUGE ways. So why do so many christians seem to celebrate the dismissal of it?

Brad

“So why do so many Christians seem to celebrate the dismissal of it?”

I don’t think anyone is “dismissing” or even celebrating the “dismissal” of church (by your definition, a building you go to on Sunday morning). I agree that the Church is in fact important, and it played a huge part in connecting me to people that God has used to transform my life. HOWEVER, the “Church” as you are defining it is a building, it can be torn down, burned down, and destroyed. The Church as others are referring to it, is the body of Christ, something that can’t be destroyed… they tried to do so at The Cross, He rose again. I regularly meet with brothers and sisters in Christ at area restaurants for lunch, dinner, drinks, whatever. We meet to intentionally discuss our struggles, praises, prayer requests, and questions regarding our faith in Jesus Christ. When we plan these things, we call it Church. I get texts regularly that say “Hey wanna do Church Thursday night at __________ (insert favorite restaurant)”. I think that’s the point that people are trying to make. That you don’t have to be in a specific place on Sunday Morning to have Church. You can have it anywhere, anytime. In fact, most of the time I have Church, outside of the building we call “the church”, I get an opportunity to discuss the sermon from the previous week. Don’t be so close-minded in your traditionalism. I personally, did learn about Jesus in a church as a child… that same church pushed me away from Christ very quickly. It was outside the church that I came to know Jesus Christ as my Savior. Not everything is black and white.

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http://wholenewmom.com Adrienne

Church in the Bible was defined as the meeting together of believers in a community. And it has been for years. It’s time we stop thinking that our spending time in the Word is church. It’s not. Of course it will never be perfect but this is where we learn to live together and refine each other. Like family.
Becky

I appreciate your thoughts Carlos. Reading all the comments is interesting. There are those non-conformists who define church as the “who” and those traditionalists who define church as the “where.” I wonder if Jesus is as hung up on these things as we are. Attending a church bldg does not mark you saved, and not attending does not keep you out of heaven. I’ve “gone” to church and appreciate the notion of fellowhsip with other believers, but if it never leads to “being” the church to others who are in need of Jesus, all we did was have a bunch of nice meetings that made us feel good. BEING the church is of far more importance than going. Just my humble opinion.
http://www.tumblr.com/blog/heroesdie Violet

who cares?

Brandon

I may not be significant in anyone’s eyes, and my belief and perceptions may have very little impact. But in a simple response to Violet’s simple question, I’d like to say I do. I care.

Violet

You care whether or not Carlos went to church on Sunday? Interesting. Why do you care? Why is it important? Why is it important to you? I definitely in no one’s eyes when to church on Sunday. Do you care? Why or why not? Should you care? Is it important? Should I care if you went? Should I care if I went?