Routine.
That’s the word that comes to mind when I think of church.
Waking up on a Saturday morning, putting on my nice ‘church-clothes,’ going and sitting in the same pew, with the same people, standing and singing the same songs, going through the same motions.
When did church become a monotonous, repetitive activity?
I remember being 5yrs old and feeling excitement every Saturday morning because that meant going to Sabbath School, and learning a new Bible verse, and studying a new character, and singing a new song, and everything was new and exciting like things often are to children. Church was fun and the messages I would learn would be simple, yet memorable.
‘Jesus loves the little children.’
‘God loves a gracious giver.’
‘A rainbow, God’s promise in the sky.’
Despite the simplicity, it was exhilarating to learn all about the Creator who loves ME, a child who had achieved nothing of consequence and would continue to love me regardless of anything and everything.
Now, 15 years on, it’s hard to replicate that same level of excitement.
Being a youth in 2019 means that we are constantly confronted with distractions – distractions that exist in the form of mobile phones that come with us everywhere, and are often flicked on during a particularly long sermon. Alongside this, it doesn’t always feel like the church is catering to us. It’s hard to relate, and therefore it becomes a routine chore.
How do we take ownership of our church experience?
In 1 Corinthians 14:26, it reads well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. ‘When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.’
Taking ownership of church may mean sharing the talents that God has blessed you with.
Church does not have meaning if it is not something you actively partake in. Whether it be welcoming people, or helping in the kitchen, or singing up the front – a church is made up of diverse people from different backgrounds, all of which offer something new and different to the church.
Inherently, young people have so much to offer the church, and unfortunately, it is often up to us to assert ourselves in order to let our voices be heard.
This is not to say that the routine of church is all-bad.
There’s something comforting about coming and seeing the same people, and being sure of your place in the family of God.
Alongside this, the routine is necessary to ensure that you’re actively seeking out time to spend with God.
However, when the routine becomes boring is when there is an issue. Because boredom leads to complacency, and complacency leads to not caring about developing a relationship with God.
In Revelation, John writes of the church of Laodicea and condemns them for being lukewarm.
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
Revelation 3:15-16
Falling into a mindless routine is dangerous because there is a lack of passion. We need to be passionate voices – voices that sing with love for God and His people, voices that call out to those who are lost, voices that are making a difference.
Take ownership of your church experience. Take ownership of your relationship with the creator.
Ella R – Student & Receptionist
WRITER: Ella Rankin.