Excuses for Not Going to Church Rom 12:5-21 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

Excuses For Not Going To Church

We have heard a lot of excuses for not going to church.  Perhaps your excuse is among some of these.  Your excuse may just be a convenient explanation to get out of something you don’t want to do. If it is, then nothing I say here is going to help you.  You just don’t want to go – period.  But if your excuse is sincere then I have some thoughts for you which you might want to consider.

Hypocrites

There are too many hypocrites in the church – Rom 12:9 – Gal 2:11-13. This is the standard excuse. And it is impossible to know whether it is true until you get to know the folks you call “hypocrites”. No doubt there are some who exude a lot more love in their talk than they do in their walk. But then I have found some jewels in every church I have attended.

Cliques

The people at church are cliquish or not friendly – Rom 12:10 – Prov 18:24. The first few times you visit you will see how well the folks get along with each other. But they may not seem to even notice that you are there. Show yourself friendly and that will likely change.

I don’t fit in or I won’t be accepted because I’m not like them – Rom 12:16 – Eph 1:6. You are accepted in the beloved. So, don’t be too hard on yourself when you get around people who aren’t like you. Remember the deacon who sat on the floor next to a very out-of-place hippy who attended his pretty upscale church. If you are in the church God wants you to be in then you will definitely fit in with somebody.

Trust Issues

I was “burned” by the people or the pastor at a church once before – Rom 12:14, 19-20 – Gal 4:14-16. You aren’t the first. Most people find themselves in conflict with others at some point in their lives. We grow through being able to resolve the conflicts. Don’t run; face the challenge of getting through the problem, if at all possible.

I don’t trust the pastor – Rom 12:18 – Rom 16:17-18; Eph 4:11-12. The Lord gave pastors to the church. Some are not trustworthy and are, therefore, you cannot trust them. Yet, some are trustworthy. And you should be able to trust the Lord to lead your church through a trustworthy pastor. If not, then maybe you lack the ability to trust the Lord to lead you through others.

Money

They’re always talking about money – Rom 12:8, 13 – 1 Cor 16:1-2, 2 Cor 9:6-11. Money is definitely a part of church. People give offerings at most services. Yet, the pastors in some churches don’t use the pulpit as a fund-raising desk. They use the pulpit when they are feeding the flock.

Time

I don’t have the time or Sunday is my only day to rest – Rom 12:15; Heb 10:25. In a good church it is amazing how revived you can be after a good sermon. My days in Bible college were unbelievably busy. Yet, we always made time to make all of the services.

I have to work on Sunday – Rom 12:11; Rom 14:5-8. In many cases this is true. However, churches have varieties of service times and days for you to attend.

Personal Preferences

I am against organized religion – Rom 12:6-8; Matt 23:5-13; 1 Cor 14:40. Certainly the way most religions operate, this is true. Nevertheless, a church must be organized. Otherwise, it would really be a mess.

I can worship God anywhere – Rom 12:5; Eph 4:13-16. There is no way to be connected to the body like that. You don’t receive your “supply” from the body and you don’t “supply” those who would receive a blessing from you.

I don’t get anything out of it or it doesn’t do anything for me – Rom 12:12; Lk 6:38. Be patient, rejoice in hope, and pray for the preacher to feed you. And remember that the more you put into it the more you get out of it.

Conclusion: Now, if you just don’t want to go to church, be honest; it’s not the church, it’s you.  But if you want to go to church and one of these excuses is keeping you out, consider what we have said. Then prayerfully consider where to go and go!