Becoming christ-like vs. attending church

One of the difficulties of being a pastor is getting across the idea that church isn't about "attending"... instead it is about "becoming." And I'm not just talking about the Sunday gathering, but Bible Studies, Small Groups, Sunday School classes, work days, special projects, potlucks... whatever. For too long, or perhaps I should say, for too many people, church has always just been something you *go to.* We try to have a Bible Study and people don't show up because it's *something else I have to go to.* Etc., etc., etc., etc.

The thing is (IMHO)... when Christians gather to worship, or look into the Bible, or pray, or fellowship, or serve... it's not about merely *attending.* Instead, the point of it all is that these are things that help us BECOME more like Christ. Learning to get along, sharing, befriending, eating together, serving together, worshiping together. It's so hard to get over the notion that since a relationship with Christ is *personal* it's not at all *individual.*

I was thinking about this the other night when we went with Isaac to get him some new running shoes. He's going to run in the mini-marathon in Indianapolis this spring, so we went to Three Rivers Running Co. (or something like that - it's on North Clinton). What a great store. You can tell when you walk in that the employees are runners themselves. When they ask if they can help - you not only get personal attention, but they want to know your whole running history. They measure your foot, get you a *sample* shoe, and have you run on the treadmill. They are videotaping your foot - so they can better fit you with the proper shoe. So after Isaac ran on the treadmill, the associate suggested three shoes (in three price ranges). He had him try them all on, and test them out on the treadmill - all the while he is writing down as many details of the conversation as possible, as well as the shoes he's tried, how he likes them, and anything else he can think of. He even made a suggestion as to which shoe *he* thought Isaac should get (which also happened to be the least expensive). See... the thing is... he said they aren't there to sell shoes. They are there to help people become better runners. And it doesn't matter what your current skill level is... they work with you from where you're at. Helping people grow as runners. Hmm.

That kinda sounds to me like what the church should be about. Aren't we supposed to be about helping people become more like Jesus? Isn't that what *makes* the church the church... the body of Christ?

What if we quit trying so hard to get people in our "stores"... and worried more about how we could help them *become*? Which is another interesting thing about this shoe store - they didn't even have a sign. Apparently their customers are advertisement enough.

Much to think about here. And I know where I'll be going for my next pair of running shoes. Because I don't just want shoes; I want to grow as a runner. They made a convert.