There are, undoubtedly, many various reasons why people attend church today: prestige, reputation, cultural norms, guilt, pride, familial pressure, a love for God, etc. But did you know these issues (and others) are actually discussed in Scripture, either directly or indirectly?
In John chapter 12, we see a picture that is strikingly similar to our present day church paradigm. In this reference, Jesus was sitting to eat with His friends. There were a number of people there, but all were doing different things.
Observe the different characters that are present here with Jesus "at church"...
John 12:1-8 "Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always."
How strange the differing attitudes that are present and depicted here! First we have Martha. She, again, is found serving the supper. In another instance, Scripture tells us that she was "cumbered about much serving" (10:38-42). Though service is of course vital, Martha seems to be perpetually distracted by her service. She is distracted with such care, I believe.
Next, we have Lazarus, who the Scripture makes a point to say had recently been powerfully raised from the dead, but now was simply sitting by watching the others display adoration. Apparently, he may not have been "participating" at all, but was possibly a mere bystander. What a strange scenario! Is it really possible to once be the very object and vessel of a past move of God yet be found sitting idly by when the Spiritual wave comes again? Indeed it is: True Christianity is to be a daily renewal (1 Cor 15:31).
Then, we have Judas. He too was idly sitting by, but for different reasons. He was probably counting the money. The major difference between him and Lazarus is that Judas mocked what was unfolding before him. Do you know any "church members" that fit this description? Too many, I fear, are subtly judging and persecuting the church of God, acting as a stumbling block, all the while supposing to be a real part of it. What a mess!
And finally, we have Mary. Precious Mary. She is the only one in the whole house who is personally and lovingly tending to King Jesus! How could this be? And even stranger still, how could Jesus' friends just sit by and not partake themselves in adoration to the Lamb of God? When such precious and glorious worship is going on, wouldn't it behoove us to join in? I would think so!
Friend, I fear that this story is a blatant picture of the church's potential spiritual condition. We seem to be a part of the church for a vast array of reasons; there are those who seem to sit and "sup" with Jesus while their hearts and real motives contradict their actions. Clearly, they aren't all the right reasons? Are we like Martha, distracted by our efforts to "work" and "serve"? This may seem noble, but Jesus rebuked her in Luke 10:38-42. Her serving was not birthed out of her sitting, and was therefore lacking and insufficient. Or are we like Lazarus? Have we merely experienced a move of God in the past, and now are found sitting idly by, completely ignorant (or rebellious) to the worship that we once found so wonderful? Are we like Judas? Do we go to church to network and be seen of men, and advance our own carnal kingdoms?
Or are we like Mary, who "wasted" precious ointment on her Lord. This ointment was worth a whole years salary! Can we even imagine such a thing! Are we willing to give of ourselves to such an extreme extent? Are we willing to be humiliated and wasted for Jesus? Such wonderful adoration filled the whole house with the fragrance of her sacrifice! WOW! Reader, such an act is the only practice that is divinely accredited by Jesus (vs. 8)! Personally, I want to be like Mary! I want my motives to likewise be so readily accredited by God. Mary could hear the cry of God's heart; deep calling unto deep (Ps 42:7). He was preparing to be crucified; Mary was worshipfully anointing the Passover Lamb 6 days before His death (Exod 12:3; Jn 12:1). What a wonderful thing! And yet what a strikingly sad contrast to the apparent ulterior motives that were undoubtedly exposed by the worshipful scent in the room.
Why do YOU go to church?
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