GodReflection: Lonely? —Glad you are here, you are family.
Older folks attend church for various reasons. Some to worship God, others perhaps go to look for answers to assist with a puzzled life. Still, some go to the assemblies in search of community. While there they also visit and talk about whatever older folks talk about.
For us little ones I suspect most of us went to have fun. Attending church as a little tyke included recreation. The church property became my playground. We ran up and down the aisles while dad and mom visited, or we might go out onto the church lawn to giggle and play tag.
When the time came to depart homeward the question came from my mom, “Where are the boys?” We weren’t lost for long, even though we were not in sight.
The Gospel writer Luke tells of a time Jesus was lost for several days at church. His parents took him to Jerusalem to visit the temple. When the caravan left to return home for Nazareth, Jesus remained.
It is beyond my understanding how it would be possible for Joseph and Mary to travel three days without missing Jesus, their son. Apparently, the social fabric was such that nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Perhaps on long trips, kids checked in with their parents every third day—I don’t have a clue. All that I know for certain is that the moment Joseph and Mary realize they had forgotten Jesus their loneliness was real.
This story should humble me when misguidedly I think I know enough about the culture of the first century to believe I can reproduce the exact form of the first century church. All I know is Jesus was lost, and he was at church.
Some years ago, I was visiting an old friend in a nursing home. Known by many people as an author of religious pamphlets. He confided in me of his regret for his first 20 years of his church ministry. He confessed, “After preaching twenty years, to my shame, it dawned upon me I was not preaching Jesus.”
He realized that he had forgotten Jesus at church and left his listeners in their loneliness during his firsts 20 years of ministry. He told me his message was always the church or combating some strawman argument. For this proclaimer and his audience, Jesus was lost at church.
I want to commit first to Jesus, then to Scripture, and his Church. Is it possible that we become so concerned with our church and how we define that church, that we overlook both Jesus and Scripture?
It is easy to teach, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments,” then see a commandment missed by a fellow Christ follower and proclaim Judgment. After all, I can keep the commandments sure I can, not a chance! I suspect Jesus’ illustration of speck, eye, and log, fits in here somewhere.
I live in a Metroplex that is home to thousands of churches who claim Jesus as their Savior. Unfortunately, due to actions and attitudes, Jesus is often lost at church and people remain lonely. Agendas overflow but we can’t always find Jesus.
Is it possible, like Joseph and Mary, we need to retrace our steps over a three-day journey to the heart of the church? We might even find Jesus waiting to receive us anew. Who knows, if we could find Jesus again, our differences just might diminish in significance. And we may discover our loneliness disappears when we find Jesus at church.
Stay tuned.
Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection on Lonely? Maybe We Have Forgot Jesus
God Reflection 
Well said Gary! Thank you for this reminder not to forget what is essential! Que Deus os abençoe.
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