Garth Rattray | Churchianity vs Christianity

Many years ago, my father (of blessed memory) came up with a word during one of our usual chats about religion and spirituality. He referred to unchristian [Christian] churchgoers as mere ‘Churchians’, not Christians.

Because of the circumstances under which I first heard that word, I was surprised to learn that the word already existed and is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as, “… a derogatory term for a person who is excessively or narrowly attached to the practices and interests of a particular church. It suggests a superficial or insincere commitment to Christianity, often emphasising rituals over genuine faith and practice.” That is a perfect definition of the word, and, sadly, I realise that more and more so-called Christians are in fact Churchians.

Interestingly, the word ‘church’ has roots in the Old English word, “cirice”, and “cirice” came from the Common Germanic word kirika; which was borrowed from the Greek word kyriakon, which means belonging to the Lord. However, some opine that ‘church’ came from another Greek word, ekklesia (ecclesia), which has a broader meaning of “an assembly of citizens, a socio-political gathering”. The latter derivation appears to be how an indeterminate number of ‘worshipers’ view ‘church’… like a social gathering.

People attend church for many, varied reasons; some of which have absolutely nothing to do with Christianity. Some go for worship and spiritual growth. They want and need the kind of environment and support to connect with a higher power, deepen their understanding, to bolster and to express their faith. The tools for ‘tuning in’ include the scriptures, prayers, hymns, testimonials, sermons, and fellowship.

COMMUNITY OF COMMONALITY

Churches offer a community of commonality, a place where some experience a profound sense of belonging. They offer spiritual, psychological, and sometimes socio-economic support in difficult times. They may offer ‘links’, avenues of connection for comradeship, business or pleasure.

In churches, many find religious learning, Biblical principles explained, religious doctrines enforced and the ability to dive unrestrained and with understanding into their faith. To those, the church is like higher learning, albeit not necessarily of a spiritual nature. Some even use the scriptures to seek knowledge and understanding of Judaism, the religion of the Old Testament… the religion practised by Rabbi Yeshua ben Yosef (Jesus the Christ).

Some seek out the church in order to worship and to serve their fellow children of our Heavenly Father (their brothers and sisters). Some do ministerial work within and outside the confines of the edifice and organisation of the church. Through their actions of volunteerism and expression of love for others, the eyes, ears and hearts of non-believers are sometimes opened, and souls harmonise with the God of pure love.

Churches provide avenues through which positive values, attitudes, and traditions can be passed on to children (the future generation), families, and communities. They can encourage the development of a sense of faith and oneness in communities. Research has shown that knowing that someone will have your back is a prime reason for happiness. And happiness promotes peace and productivity within our society.

For some, church gives them the means of publicly showing their love for God. It liberates the unbridled expression of their faith because of the presence and support of people with similar thoughts and behaviour. The oneness that can permeate churches lifts their souls and strengthens their faith, purging them of their fears and doubts. Their ability to worship, praise, and honour our Heavenly father is healing in and of itself.

WHY WE DO

Many people do not realise that, when it comes to spirituality, it is why we do what we do that matters, and not so much what we do what we do. I knew an ardent and very participatory churchgoer who, when pressed, confessed to me that she joined a church, volunteered for various projects, and attended dutifully because she wanted a good funeral when her time came. That’s not Christianity, that’s churchianity.

Some people affiliate themselves with churches to present a façade of righteousness and propriety. They literally invest their time and effort into the church with the expectation that it will pay socio-economic dividends over time. To them, the church is like a fraternity or sorority, a social club that protects them against the harsh vicissitudes of life. They are not Christians, they are Churchians.

Others claim to be devout Christians because it makes them feel special and superior to others. They [erroneously] believe that, by simply turning up at church on a regular basis, it endears them to our Heavenly Father. They are fooling themselves, and they are fooling some people, but they cannot fool God. By racking up a good attendance record in church, they expect to go straight to Heaven (whatever they conceive that to be), when they transition. I wish those Churchians luck with that when their time comes.

Whereas Christians worship our Heavenly father, Churchians sometimes worship several gods. Some worship the god of lust – they live for predatory carnality but wear sheep’s clothing to fool the crowd. Some worship the god of hate – they live their lives in acrimonious relationships, quarrelling and warring at the drop of a hat. Others worship the god of avarice – they can never accumulate enough power and worldly possessions. They will step on, trample, and climb over anybody to achieve their elusive goals.

This is a good time for us to take an honest look within ourselves to see if we are Christians or Churchians.

Garth Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice, and author of ‘The Long and Short of Thick and Thin’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com