I'm Not Going To Church Anymore

I have decided that I'm not going to church anymore.

Why?

You might think that's a selfish thing to do. And actually, that's it exactly- selfishness. Because that's what church can become.
Think about it: why do you go to church? Do you go for what you can get... or what you can give?
I've been guilty many times of going for what I can get out of it. I hope the service helps me. I hope they sing my favorite song. I hope the message blesses me. I hope someone encourages me.
It becomes something for me. My needs, my feelings, my preferences. Now don't get me wrong, I believe God is concerned with meeting our needs, but that should not be my only purpose in going to church. Church is about far more than me. And it's not just about what God can do for me- it's about what I can do for God.
So I've decided I'm not going to "church"- I'm going to worship. I've decided not to go to "church"- I'm going to serve. (Isn't that why it's called a "service"? Maybe we've turned it into a serve-us...)
What if we stopped going to church consumed with our needs (God will take care of them anyway), and started going consumed with the needs of others? What if we stopped going for what we could get, and started going for what we could give? What if we stopped going to church to fulfill an obligation, and started going to express a passion? What if we stopped going to church to sing about God, and started going to sing to Him?
I think it would transform our lives. And I think it would transform our churches.
So I'm not going to church anymore. I'm going to worship.