Yes And No

I Peter 2:17 -- "Love the brotherhood of believers."

Standing up strait and leaning backward slightly I did what I could to stretch out the tight muscles in my lower back. The last of the kids had been picked up and it was time to clean up the class room. Unfortunately, there wasn't a whole lot I could do physically to alleviate the tight muscles in my jaw. I was irritated and had to bite my tongue to keep it from wagging in anger only to later regret what I'd allowed to spew out of my mouth.

Steven and I had been teaching the third grade Sunday school class at our church for two years when the minister of education popped in to discuss an issue with us. The issue had me fuming.

I know those of you who are educators will completely understand how chaotic it can be to settle a group of rowdy third graders who hadn't seen each other all week. Not only were they fidgeting with boundless energy, but they wanted nothing more than to catch up on the week's events and talk amongst themselves. This presents a problem when it's time to sit down and get to the Bible lesson. So, Steven and I hatched a plan. Each Sunday, we'd bring in a bucket of sugar-free lollipops. If they could all sit down in the semi-circle and IF they all brought their Bible with them, they'd get a lollipop. If they'd managed to memorize the week's verse, they'd get another lollipop. If they made it through the whole lesson in a well-behaved and polite manner, they'd get to watch a Veggie-Tales short video while we waited on their parents to pick them up.

On this particular Sunday, the group was amazing. They were beyond well-behaved, and I was tickled that we got to put in the Veggie-Tales story about ten minutes before parents finished their worship service and came to pick up their kids. I let the group know just how proud I was.

And then, Steven and I were told that a few parents were concerned that we weren't teaching enough of the Sunday School lesson.  They complained that we were just baby-sitting and that each Sunday was a party.

First, I was upset because I prepared for each Sunday school lesson all week long.  It took me days to get in the right mind set, get the props and materials ready for each child, make sure the room was set up and each child had access to pencils, Bibles, crayons and the like - and then get up and get to church in time to teach the group of fifteen or so third grade kids. Second, it made me sad that I couldn't celebrate an exceptionally smooth session because a parent decided I wasn't good at my volunteer position with the church. Third, I was frustrated for the kids. They'd worked hard all week, as well. They did all of their "homework" and had memorized the weeks Bible verse better than I had ever seen them do before. I felt like we were really getting somewhere with these children. I felt like they were learning to serve the Lord with a joyful spirit. And to top it off, the following Sunday, four of our Sunday School group were baptized. I was elated at the amazing grace of God and proud to see Him work in those kids.

I am a homeschooling parent, so teaching is not new. Volunteering to care for children that are not my own is not new either - so it came as a huge surprise that my experience and techniques were suddenly under fire. I wanted to scream and then sit down on the brightly colored reading mat and cry my heart out.

The truth is, I have allowed that situation - and a few others that followed shortly there after - to change the way I worship. It was a long time after that rough year in church before I even stepped foot in another Sunday School class room, and when I did, it was my own adult couples class. I was brokenhearted, yes - but I also decided that I was fed up with church politics and walked away from Sunday Fellowship for a very long time.

That being the case, it came as no surprise that I started to fiddle with my fingers and chew on my bottom lip when a young woman asked me if it was really, truly necessary to worship God in a group on Sundays. She said she felt closer to the Lord when when could get in a good hike, comb the beach, or sit in her quiet house with her Bible and cup of hot tea. She sat across from me and asked me point blank - could she be a Christian and not go to church?

Whew .... how do I answer that?

Well, to borrow the words of Billy Graham, "if we ever found a perfect church, it would be IMperfect the minute we joined it!"

So true.

And yes, God loves us if we don't make it through the church doors every Sunday. We are just as forgiven as the woman who's been teaching Sunday School for more than twenty years. So yes, we CAN be Christians and not go to church.

BUT - also, No - we can't. Or better stated, we can't be very good ones. Because even when we dedicate our personal lives completely to Christ, we NEED to fellowship with others who follow Jesus. That's were we grow. That's were we learn - where we help and get help. I Peter 2:17 hits the nail right on the head. We are to love our fellow believers. How can I love them if I don't join in worship with them? Can I truly follow this command of the Lord without ever interacting with my brothers and sisters in Christ?

Some might say yes. Some might say no. But here is food for thought. Could I really express my deep devotion and love for my Savior if I ignore what He's asked me to do?

Definitely - not.