I wrote this for my blog at http://j-c-r.blogspot.com/. Comment and let me know what you think, as it's probably controversial....

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This is dedicated to North Thurston Life Center, it's youth ministry Masada Youth Ministries, it's A/G network Northwest Ministry Network and anything else affiliated.

What's fellowship? That's what church is about, right? 1 John 1:3 says "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." Indeed, why else should we go to church unless it is to have spiritual fellowship with other believers. There is no other reason. Or is there?

I'd take a wager that most of us Christians don't go to church for the reason to fellowship with other Christ-minded individuals for spiritual edification. Instead, we go for the social scene. The purposeless 15 to 30 minutes before, between, and after services where we seek out acceptance in those who are most notable around the church as we force superficial small talk through our fake smiles. It is in these settings where we might find, say, next weekends date or a new poker buddy. We joke around and laugh at jokes we wouldn't laugh at if we were by ourselves, and often times compare career and social status with others in our minds.

Fellowship?

For example, my youth group starts out usually with announcements, a game, awards given to random students for acheivements, as well as student testimonies (most of which aren't about God). Then we progress into an at least attempted intense worship session, followed by a sermon and a call to the altar.

Sure, we worship God and feel close to Him. Those of us who are paying attention to the sermon learn something new. Yet, quite literally the second we are dismissed, it's as though God is completely sucked out of the building and the social scene garbage is there as a replacement. No more praying. No more worship. No more testimony. It's all gone, left hanging by the obviously more important act of meaningless chatter and flirting.

The questions I pose to my own church and every other church in existance are: Where is God after service? Where is the fellowship as offered in 1 John? When will the church realize that it isn't until all of the peices of the body of Christ unite together SPIRITUALLY, will our fellowship with eachother be truly with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.