Church: Worth the trouble?

By Paul Stanley

I was just listening to the radio, (Christian station), on the way into the office and I heard a spot asking if church was worth the trouble. It said something to the effect of, "Do your kids make a mess right before church, mess their clothes, won't get ready on time, house is a mess, you got other things to do, just hard to get everyone up and going," and so on. And then they ask, "Is church worth the trouble?" I have been a pastor for some time now and I have heard all of these excuse plus some. My favorite (please note sarcasm) is "It is the only day my family has together." Really?

It seems to me that if a family is getting ready to go to the beach or to the mountains or the lake or a football/baseball game or to a place like Santa Cruz, they have no problem getting up and out of the house on time. I have even seen some leave home at 2 a.m. just to make it to Disneyland "on time". In these situations, the kids are ready, clothes are fine, snacks are packed and they are bound for funland (wherever that may be). These places sure seem worth "the trouble."

But church, well, it's trouble trying to get ready for that. I do not say this in the religious, "have to be in church every time the door is cracked" mindset. I understand about family trips and vacations and so on. I am just wondering why it seems like so much trouble to make church a regular part of your life? If it is the only time your family has together, then you should certainly spend time in the presence of worship and biblical teaching. In an age where it is important now more than ever to be under scriptural teaching and when we should be making God's truth (the Bible) our constant companion, Has the world really convinced us that it is just too much trouble to even take your family to church or give the a steady diet of praise, worship and scriptural learning?

I know times are busy, but I am not convinced they are that busy! The question, it seems to me is not a matter of busyness, but of priority. What is important to you and what is important to your family? If you can figure this out, when someone asks, "Is church worth the trouble? your response will be, "What trouble?