Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.
— Jonathan Edwards —
A new year is upon us, and it arrives with renewed hope (and resolve) that the next twelve months will be different: this year we are going to advance; this year we are going to ‘raise our game;’ this year we are going to act wisely, finish projects, be kind, avoid sugar, lose weight, save money, work out and smell the roses. This year we are going to be different.
Of course we will not. At least, not if we go about things the same way we did last year. Our will is too weak to sustain 365 days of reform. Most of us will do well to make a week.
Is there any hope? Yes! Yes! Yes!
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What is needed? There is lots of counsel out there about how to take ground here. In fact, all the libraries in Chicago could not hold the collective advice being offered for the ‘new you.’ I could easily bury you with platitudes and information. But let me make this simple. I will reduce my life-changing advice to just three words. Ready?
Go to church.
Make church attendance – and involvement – part of your 2015.
What do I mean by involvement? Let me be specific:
- Show Up Every Week (or nearly every week): In the last few years, church attendance has declined in the US. In fact, even those denominations that were picking up momentum like a snow ball rolling down a hill back in the 90’s have started to decline. Some read all kinds of things into this – e.g., the New Atheists are winning, Millennials are church-averse, etc. But there is a much simpler explanation: people who attend church now do so less often. Do not be one of them. Do not wake up and decide if you are going to go. Make going every week your default assumption.
- Show Up on Time. I was going to say, show up early, but I’d be happy with on time. (For those of you who are confused about this, our one Saturday night service starts at 5:30 PM and the services on Sunday morning start at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM at LF and HP and 11:00 AM at CR. Showing up on time is not only a way to honor the hundreds of volunteers (and staff) who work hard to craft the services, it’s a way of giving yourself a chance of actually ‘being present’ and engaging with God. By the way, the battle to be on time is often won (or lost) on Saturday night. Plan ahead.
- Sit in the Same Seat: Attend the same service at the same campus and sit in the same area. Why? So you get to know those around you. There are pros and cons of various size churches. One of the cons of a larger church is that you cannot know everyone. (Studies show that most people ‘know’ about 200 people at church – and that is true whether the church has 200 people, 2,000 people or 20,000 people.) Most of us are creatures of habit and sit in the same general area. Let’s leverage that so we can all get to know people a bit better.
- Invite Someone out to Lunch: Take sitting in the same seat to the next level by asking someone to join you for lunch. Let me be so bold as to encourage you to extend this grace to the 20 (and 30) somethings among us. Many are students and poor. A restaurant (or home cooked) meal is a blessing.
- Pray Before You Arrive: Pray when you wake up; pray as you are driving and pray as you walk in the door. What should you pray? I know that some of you are praying things like, “Lord, help me not to kill these kids!” But I am thinking about something a bit more proactive: Lord, meet with me now; fill me now; shape me today. Help me to worship in ways that are pleasing to you. Help me to see myself and others more accurately. Lord Jesus help me see others more as you see them.
- Invite Someone: Perhaps no other step will make a bigger difference in your life (to say nothing of someone else’s) than for you to extend an invitation for a friend (neighbor, son, colleague, etc.) to join you at church. I know, I know, you think you’re not ready for all that comes with inviting someone to church. I mean, what if they ask you spiritual questions! Let me let you in on a little secret. I am praying that they do! American Christianity is filled with people who never move out of the nursery. One of the ways they (we / you) get pushed is by needing to ramp up in order to help someone else. Do not be like the millions who consume for years without looking over your shoulder to help someone behind you. Invite someone to join you at church. They will say no the first five or six times, but eventually – when they hit a rough spot – they will call you up and ask if they can join you. Be part of advancing the kingdom. (By the way, you can always also invite people to join you at Alpha, MOPS, Men’s Fraternity, a small group, etc.).
There is more. If you’ve attended Christ Church very often you’ve heard me push serving and giving, small groups and daily Bible reading. But I’ll stop here for now. Take a few next steps. You can be different – better! – this time next year. And the steps you need to take are not a deep dark secret. Plugging into church is a great first step.