Playing Church
Playing Church
Kids love to play and often they mimic the adults around them. It's cute, especially when it involves them paying attention and learning the things that we are purposely trying to instill in them. Imagine walking into your child's room and catching them playing church. They dress up, they may have their Bibles, they imitate the pastor, pretend to be the choir and simulate the church services that they've attended with you. I think that would be a proud moment for a parent. A sign that they are paying attention and actually enjoy church.
The truth is that they are just playing and having fun. Pretending to be adults and copying the things that they have seen you do. For real life church can be fun but there is a serious side of church too. A life changing, mind altering, spirit filled side. Where we glorify God and worship Him. Where we are edified, ministered to and brought closer to God.
There are many of us that go to church regularly but never get to the life changing part. Those of us are just playing church. They too attend services, dress the part, carry their Bibles, listen to the sermons, sing the songs, pay their tithes and offerings and do all the other 'churchy' stuff. The only difference is that their life outside the four walls of the church does not change. Much like the kids playing church in their bedroom. They have fun and return to normal kid stuff when their done.
At some point in life, we all need to evaluate our walk with God. Decide to find out for ourselves if there is really more to God than just church. At some point we have to decide that we want to move on from just doing church and going through the motions. And do whatever it takes to take control of our own salvation.
This journey with Christ is personal, your church, your pastor, your friends and your family are not going to get you in. Your life, your actions, your relationship with Christ will speak for itself. Just going to church, looking the part and playing the role is not enough. We do need to go to church to be a part of the body. We also need to allow God into our hearts, through prayer, reading His word, worshiping and growing in faith.
To make sure that we aren't just playing church I believe that we all need to ask ourselves some questions. Is going to church a thing you do or a lifestyle? Are you living the life Jesus tells us to live? Are you doing the same things over and over again or has your mind, heart and life been renewed? Without any excuses... does your everyday life look like what Jesus died for? Are you playing church or have you experienced the life changing effects of the Holy Spirit?
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