Church: More Than Simple "Go-Go Juice"

I remember as a child heading to the gas station with my mom and pulling into what was called the "full service island." Some of you are too young to remember such a place (and I do feel old saying that) but there once was a place where you could drive your vehicle and have the gas pumped into your car by a helpful attendant! The attendant would wash the windshield, check the oil and accept payment for your gas. It did cost a few extra pennies for this service but I always believed the clean windshield and opportunity to stay in the car while getting a "fill-up" was well worth the extra change my mother paid for what my dad called "go-go juice."

Unfortunately, there are people who attend church for many of the same reasons my family once frequented the full-service island of the gas station. These church goers attend in order to be served and receive their weekly "go-go juice." These misguided individuals seem to believe the church exists solely to serve them! They believe the church exists to meet their needs and take care of their family when crisis or tragedy happens. What a tragic and single minded view of God and His church!

We should see our involvement in church as much more than an opportunity to be served. Our Sunday attendance is an opportunity to worship God and serve others with whom we have the opportunity to worship. Good sermons and inspiring worship do give us a shot of spiritual "go-go juice" but the real motivation for our attendance should be to love God and others. Our real motivation should be to experience God and to live out our calling as the Body of Christ.

Have you ever considered your whether or not your church attendance is rightly motivated? Is your heart in the right place as you walk through the doorway of your church each Sunday? If not I hope you will take some time to pray and seek God for a changed heart. Right motivation will radically change your walk with God and your Sunday worship experience!

James