Why I Quit Church, Part 2

As promised I wanted to post the second part of the topic on why people are leaving church.  In my world I meet many people who are just disinterested in church for a number of reasons today.  I want to thank my friend Damien "Chip" Dizard for being willing to share in my blog!




Many children grow up forced to attend church and it's not a pleasurable experience.  You know the line, "children should be seen and not heard” most churches give 10 to 15 minutes of a children's story and then expect children not to move, eat or do anything the entire time.  I find that utterly ridiculous.  That's why my family attends the church we do now.  Not because we are in love with the preaching, fellowship or even the facilities. Our children look forward to attending church and they actually learn something once they leave.   I didn't have this opportunity growing up and my wife and I wanted to give our children the best chance for success. Does that mean they won't get tired of church? Sure they may, but their childhood memories of church should be one of engagement activity and learning.

I have also heard stories of many families who never missed church but missed other important engagements for their children. Basketball games, musical recitals and more, but church, God's house is never put on the back burner. Families can argue all week long, but they will sit next to each other smiling and holding hands in church.

Have you ever felt guilty for not attending church?  More and people especially younger Seventh-day Adventists aren't attending church regularly.  I was talking with a friend recently whose sister who grew up in church who doesn’t attend or watch it online either. I think the story is similar to someone you know.  It's an epidemic that spreads deep and wide. You may know a person who is guilted into attending church because they feel inadequate and once they feel better they go right back and do the same thing.

James 1:23-24 says "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."

This text hit me because it is just foolish.  God doesn't take attendance, but he knows when you listen to the word and don't follow through.

How can you follow through with God today?  Tell us about your church attendance experience.  Leave in the comments below.

Chip Dizárd is a Christian, tech expert, author and blogger. He is passionate about his family and reaching people for Christ. His tech blogs are at chipdizard.com.

Why I Quit Church, Part 1

This blog was completed by Mr. Damien "Chip" Dizard, and after he sent it to me, I could not resist the urge to post to my blog.  Please feel free to give feedback!  Part 2 will be posted tomorrow.  Enjoy!





Church has been a mainstay in my life for years. I remember my dad parting my hair from east to west every week before church.  I remember being told when in church all the earth should keep silent.  



I remember church like it was yesterday.  I grew up at Liberty seventh day Adventist church.  I remember moving around from building to building until we finally left.



I remember my mom and my dad spending hours at church board meetings and then coming home frustrated with things. This is how I remember church.



I never had a bad experience at church. I just never had an experience.



In my college years I got tired of going to church.  Or if I went it was to check out a girl or grab a free meal. Back then, the hype church was Capitol Hill SDA where Wintley Phipps was the pastor.  I attended Columbia union college (now Washington Adventist university) and the fellas made sure we had the fresh cuts and suits in order to impress the ladies and be seen.



But I was tired.  I was tired of the same thing with no comittment. So I quit church.  I left without a trace.  I would show up for special days and to tell my parents I was going and I gave money occasionally.  But I had no real connection, and my friends which weren't into church didn't understand why I went to church anyway.



Years later, my big play sister Sharon invited me to  a church.  It was in the ghetto of Baltimore and the name was Miracle Temple. She said I should come and hear the preacher.  I wasn't really interested, but when someone you respect invites you and feeds you after, you oblige.   I went on the first Saturday of the year in 2000 and a preacher named Freddie Russell was talking about vision.  I was confused, I didn't think I was in a business setting, but he had a powerpoint and was stating where the church needed to go.  I was intrigued and wanted to know how a preacher could give a powerpoint and not a hell-fire breathing sermon on the first day of the year. It was Y2K and everyone was afraid that the end was near.  Pastor Russell may have missed that memo.



After church I introduced myself and I came back again and again.  I invited people. They came with me. I even attended prayer meeting.  This was different. This was the "unchurch."   In the next few years I joined and became lead webmaster and then in charge of media, but it was all because from an invite from a friend.



How can we use friendship evangelism in our local churches? In the next series of blogs I will lay out how to make our churches more "seeker" friendly and how to reclaim them for the 20-30 crowd.

The reason why I vote

Hey everyone, I thought the day before the United States elections for President I would just give my personal reasons as to why in my world...I vote.  I have actually never been into politics.  Though I have always liked and enjoyed serving people the political side often gets in the way of helping people who need help the most.  We often spend so much time trying to decide who to put into certain offices and no time is invested into determining how we are going to go about serving people.

It really bothers me though, when we do this in church.  When we spend time, dedication and energy in politics and positioning ourselves in places where we want to go instead of where God wants us to be.  In my world, I have never personally felt like we needed to follow a democratic system in church.  I guess maybe at times, because we don't trust the power of prayer, we would rather put everything to a vote.  Since we don't want to take the time to get on our faces to God and find out what he really desires, we are content to vote it out?  This is not to suggest that God works in the midst of us voting....however could it be possible that we vote something that God doesn't even want...for his people?

I'm sorry, I just had to get that off my chest about church...back to the nation.  My premise for voting within in the democracy of the United States is simple.  There are many people who gave up their lives so that I could.  They said to themselves: I will gladly die, if one day my great, great grandson will be able to vote.  So, out of respect to my ancestors and people who have paved the way for me...I vote.  I still understand that plight that African Americans have historically held in this country, and would honestly be ashamed not to vote.  Why not take an opportunity to do something, that for years my family could never do?

I have talked to many people who, for one reason or another are not voting.  They feel that President Obama has let them down.  They sense that Governor Mitt Romney is not the best candidate.  Since my world is governed by the word of God, let me remind us all that the bible says in Daniel 2:21, that it is God that sets up rulership.  Regardless of who serves or is elected, it is only because God wanted or allowed them, for that time and season to be in that position.  I think too often, we see ourselves as a god, and feel that we are in charge of what happens.  How about we exercise our right to vote and leave the bigger things up to God?  After all....I honestly believe He knows what He is doing!  

That why in my world...I vote!