I had good intentions, I really did.

But, once the responses started coming in, I knew I’d struck a chord.

Let me explain, on Sunday evening I asked a question on Facebook:

I was really just looking for some of the areas I could just address easily and maybe help some of our community get over the hump from being there sometimes to being there most of the time. I had a list of excuses in my head, but wanted to get feedback from others.

As you can imagine a lot of the usual excuses came in. But, then there were obviously some other issues that keep people from being regular attenders. And let me be clear, we’re not looking for regular attenders. I think that’s a step. But, what we’re looking for are people who are committed to the community of SixEight.

And I want you to know, my aim in this isn’t to point fingers or place blame. The real goal is to help us all take whatever the next step is in being committed to the community of Christ.

So, instead of writing a simple post about excuses, I’m going to break it up into three parts. Part 1 – The List. Part 2 – The Church. Part 3 – My response.

So, here is Part 1 – The list.

1. I just didn’t feel like it.
2. I don’t fit in/I’m not connected (I don’t feel like I add anything.)
3. I don’t get anything out of it.
4. I don’t want to go by myself
5. I’m kind of sick
6. I’m tired/I didn’t Sleep Well/Am running late.
7. It’s just full of hypocrites.
8. Family Commitments
9. Drama/Conflict with people at the church or among the people at the church.
10. I’m an introvert/Too many people
11. I don’t feel like I belong/No one will miss me anyway/Not connected when I’m there.
12. I’m too messed up/not perfect enough to go to church.

Granted, I think the largest reason people don’t go to church is is because we just don’t feel like it, and don’t feel like going to the effort to get there. If we’re all being honest, that’s the number one reason we don’t go to church. Then we start to find other excuses to attach to that one excuse to justify our choice not to go.

So, here are a few prefaces.

Preface #1: In case you didn’t know, I should warn you that I have a bias. I am a pastor. For most of my life, I’ve been at church every Sunday. I grew up going to church twice on Sundays and many Wednesdays. Throw in a Spring and Fall Revival, and you’ve got someone who grew up spending a lot of time in church.

Preface #2: I also grew up with a mom who worked the night shift most of the time before Sundays. She would get off work at 6am, sleep for an hour or two, and then go to Sunday School, play piano for the worship service, come home to take a couple hour nap then go back to play piano for choir practice and the evening service. I’ve also worked with many who have served on worship who have come in on a Sunday morning after having worked the night before. Plus, we have four kids (whom my wife gets ready, out the door and to church on time every Sunday). So, when people say they’re just too tired to go, it’s hard for me to understand.

Preface #3: As a pastor, I’ve heard so many excuses about why someone couldn’t be at church. I want to be dead bang honest with you. Most of the time, I’m being a hypocrite. By that I mean, on the outside, I’m turning on the understanding nod but on the inside, I’m dumbfounded by how you think staying up until 4am playing world of warcraft or watching the Notebook and now your’e too tired is a good enough reason to skip out on church.

Make sure to come back tomorrow for Part 2!