Have you ever taken a drive on a Sunday morning while every else is at church? Have you ever been without a home church? In a season where you are and your family are searching for a church?
It’s lonely. It’s frustrating. And I am here for you. It is so hard to be church homeless on a Sunday morning.
One homeless church Sunday, we drove past the church with all the women in dresses. The girls wore long golden curls in their hair while they stood outside chatting.
We drove past the church where toes snuffed out cigarette butts before entering the doors.
We drove past the church where the buzzed cut men offered arms to their wives with no makeup.
What did all the churches have in common?
The people showed up. They all showed up, and we did not. We had nowhere to go. Yet.
It is such a lonely feeling, living most your life in church on a Sunday morning and then suddenly, having nowhere to go. No church home. The feeling of everyone has a place to be and a place to go, expect for you.
I feel silly even writing this. Knowing that somewhere someone is beheaded for even attempting to attend One church.
But, we are where we are, and until the Lord comes or we are prohibited to do so, I believe we are called to not give up on meeting with one another. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another- and all the more as you see the day approaching.” This is a frustrating place to be. When we long to meet with one another, but cannot find where the Lord wants us to land and serve and love and meet and be healed and grow.
How do we know where our Someplace Else should be? Being church homeless is hard, but so is visiting new churches. Visting churches to see where the Lord might want us.
We visited the church that has more people on stage that the entire congregation I grew up in. The church that reminds us of what heaven may be like. Different races, ages, backgrounds, stories, all coming together.
We visited the all are welcome here church that is pared down. No flashing lights. Come as you are. Where we think Jesus would be if He were in the flesh.
We visited the church with the great kid’s program and incredible spirit led worship. We can feel the Holy Spirit moving there.
What a silly problem we have. To have so many church options.
Are you in the season of trying to find a church to call home? A home church? A body of believers to study the word together, serve together, tell others about Jesus tother, and support one another?
Is there a right church? We all know no church is perfect, but is there one that the Lord has called us to for this season?
Chime in on your season of finding a church or a time when the Lord called you Someplace Else…