I heard a very telling conversation on the radio today. The question the host posed to the callers was, “What is your favorite bar and why?” Hey, I live in Wisconsin. This is what we talk about.

The answers spoke volumes. To a man, they said their favorite bar offered friendship. A sense of community and belonging. More than one referenced the TV show Cheers, “where everyone knows your name”.

The stories made me sad. This is what people want in life – a place to belong, a family, where they can be known and be comfortable. So they belly up to the bar and pour out their stories to the people beside them. They develop a camaraderie. After going back a few times, they “belong”.

It got me thinking. Isn’t that what the church is supposed to be? We are called members of one body, the family of God, brothers and sisters. The number one reason for going to church should be to worship our Savior, to hear the preaching and teaching of the word. It is not purely a social club. But God does command us not to neglect the fellowship of the saints. He knows how we crave that sense of community and belonging. He knows we need each other.

Is this what our churches are like? I’m happy to say that in the last several churches I have been to while away from home have been welcoming places. For example, we had a church we attended when we visited Doug’s mom. We were there no more than one Sunday a year, but we had gone a few weeks before she passed away. When we walked into church the Sunday after she died, the pastor was surprised to see us again, and we explained why we were back. During the announcement time, he brought our presence to the congregation’s attention. And during the prayer, he mentioned our family by name. Let me tell you, that brought on the tears. I may have been a thousand miles from my church, but I felt at home. That is, in it’s deepest, truest meaning, the fellowship of the saints.

What does your church offer you? What do you offer others who walk through the door?