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Situationship - a spiritual one?

  • A "situationship" offers the perks of dating with zero commitment or exclusivity. When it gets hard, you simply walk away.

  • We treat the local church exactly the same way. We consume the polished worship and community, but ghost the church when asked for accountability, giving, or service.

  • The Barna Group calls this demographic "Nomads". We treat the church like a disposable Netflix subscription.

  • If we walk away when church becomes inconvenient, we leave the next generation without the spiritual family they need to survive.

 

Why love the church?

  • Scripture calls the church the "Bride of Christ". A subscription is a contract you cancel when dissatisfied; marriage is a covenant where you step closer and sacrifice.

  • Reason 1: The Inseparable Union

    • We love Galatians 2:20 (Christ loved me), but we ignore Ephesians 5:25 (Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her).

    • Jesus does not abandon a dirty church; He steps in to wash her.

    • In Acts 9:4, Jesus asks Saul, "Why are you persecuting me?". Striking the church is striking Christ Himself. You cannot love the Groom and reject His Bride.

  • Reason 2: The Eternal Future of the Church

    • Revelation 21:2 reveals the New Jerusalem prepared as a bride. Eternity is a shared reality with God's family, not a solo, private journey.

    • Because Christ will dwell with His Church forever, practicing our love for her now is our literal rehearsal for heaven.

 

What’s next?

  • Forget the Perfect Church: Stop holding out for a flawless community. As Charles Spurgeon warned, if you found a perfect church, you would spoil it the moment you joined.

  • Ditch the Spiritual Situationship: The church is a household, not a restaurant. When there are dirty dishes at home, you roll up your sleeves and wash them.