If we are to engage aworld that seems so bent on its own destruction, then we must also take an honest look at ourselved and the reasons why people shy away from becoming involved in the local church. I suppose there are countless reasons why people become disconnected from the church they once attended or never darken the door, but until God's people think about how we are representing the Body of Christ to a skeptical world, not much will change. As pastor, I have a unique relationship to the local church. My Commitment to FUMC is not driven only by my love for the Gospel, God's people, and God's word, but also by the fact that its my job. I know that doesn't sound very spiritual, but its the truth. Imagine for a moment the emails, phone calls, personal visits, and letters I would receive if one Sunday morning I just decided I didn't feel like going to church, yet countless other Christians do this very thing and would be outraged if I sent them a letter asking why and reminding them of the commiment they made. Why the difference? Why am I held to a standard no one else wants? What about the people who stay home? I think there are several reasons why people stay away from church that I would like to talk about in the weeks ahead. I hope these spark some interest and dialogue among God's people wanting transformation, not just status quo.  Reason #1: “I’m too busy” “I’m too busy.” This is the most common reason I hear for why most people aren’t committed to a local church. Have you ever used this reason, whether for a season of life or a single Sunday morning? Do you have Christian friends who currently employ this as a reason for not going to church? I used these words a lot during my freshman year of college. I have many friends and acquaintances who’ve been saying this for years: “I’m too busy to be involved in a church…I’m too busy to go to church today…I’m too busy to join a community group.” What’s the assumption underneath this?Here’s one set of assumptions that might underlie this, “I have more important things going on…more important things to do…more important priorities that I’m committed to.” Perhaps you’re letting other things, good things, crowd out the priority of the local church. Or maybe even not-so-good things. I’ve found that I can best serve my own heart and people I know by asking them questions that expose and challenge what’s really important to them. So here are some questions to ask… Questions: You say you’re too busy right now to be involved in church, when do you think this might change, when might your circumstances clear up and give you more time for church? Do you really think you’ll be less busy in your thirties than you are right now in your twenties? What would you say are the 3-5 main commitments that make you so busy, that you devote most of your time to on a weekly basis? You have 168 hours in a week, minus the 56 hours a week you spend sleeping and the 50 or so hours you spend working, what are the important commitments that fill up the other 62 hours? What are you working so hard to accomplish? Is it worth it?

What do you think your priorities are? Are they the right ones?