The shoe company says, "Just do it." The comedian says, "Get 'er done." Every pastor has heard the words, "I know that I need to get back to church. It's just so hard to get up that early, come that late, give up my Sunday morning walk, get my family out of bed."
Or, my personal favorite, "Doesn't my car deserve a day of rest too?"
It is interesting just how many avoid that which they say they truly desire. Perhaps they have had a difficult experience in the past. Perhaps they just don't know what to expect inside those doors. Perhaps they have never had a friend invite them to their faith community. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.
Have I got the solution for you - oops, I mean "them." It's always "them," unless, perchance, it's me or you or us together. Whomever I am speaking to, please hear this: God's church needs you.
St. Paul says it best in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us this ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."
We entreat you, we earnestly request of you, we implore you, come back to God. Allow me to beg the question, does going to church make me a Christian? Does sitting in the garage make me a car? I can express my own spirituality wherever I am. True, yet participating in a faith community builds Christian character in a way no one can accomplish on their own.
Everyone has a desire to belong. Belonging to a group of persons dedicated to being ambassadors for Christ is a first step along the pathway of molding our lives in the image of God. You know persons of whom I speak. They radiate God's love in such a compelling way that you cannot help being attracted to them. My plea to you is to seek them out, those you already know are trustworthy and grace filled. Invite them to invite you to church. You may have to say it a couple of times. That's OK, because you see just as you have gotten out of the habit of church they have gotten out of the habit of inviting friends to church.
We are all in the same leaking boat, bailing as fast as we can and forgetting that there are others willing to help. And what better time than Easter to make this wonderful adventure of faith?
I can say with confidence that you will not be singled out on Easter morning. It's the best time to begin anew your long desired commitment to God's church. It's just two weeks away. Plenty of time to choose a church to visit and place their worship times in your calendar.
Easter is the central story of the Christian faith, a great time to get back to church. Need to hear it another way? Just do it. Get 'er done. You will be glad you did.
The Rev. Pete Nelson of Carson Valley United Methodist Church is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers' Association.
