There are many reasons why a person could be afraid of getting involved with the church. Within churches, there is a multitude of ministries, ranging from youth ministry to missions ministry. In addition to the different ministries, there is also the need to commit to coming weekly as well as interacting with others. For many people, this can be overwhelming and cause them to not get involved with the church.
But let's dive a little deeper and examine four reasons why we are afraid to get involved with the local church body:
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One reason why we are afraid to get involved with the church is that it requires commitment. Time, energy, and dedication are all needed when one starts getting involved with the local body of believers. Many of us simply don’t believe that we have the time, energy, or dedication. With already busy and hectic lives, there can be little to no time to invest in the church. While many people frown upon this reason, it can be a valid reason and should be considered when church staff wants to recruit others for ministry.
New moms, those who recently lost a loved one, or those going through a terminal illness might not be able to make the commitment to be involved with the church. As believers, we have to be aware of others' limitations as well as their boundaries. Simply because they are not involved with the church doesn't mean they aren't Christians nor does it mean they aren't spiritually mature. There are many reasons why a person would not be able to commit to being involved with the church, and we have to acknowledge these reasons rather than shrugging them off. If we haphazardly shrug off these reasons, we will be doing a disservice to the Lord by failing to understand the feelings of others.
Perhaps the church can discover ways to serve those who can't serve, like offering a Mom's Evening Out or a fundraiser banquet to collect donations for church members battling illness and paying hefty medical bills.
A second reason why we are afraid to be involved with the church is because of fear of being judged or not accepted. For me, this has been a huge hindrance from being actively involved with the church. From past experiences, I have been judged, not accepted, or seen as not qualified to serve in the ministry where I have tried to plug in. Maybe this same thing has happened to you, and if it has, my heart goes out to you.
The fear of being judged or not accepted can make us deeply afraid of being involved with the church. Some might connect this with social phobias. However, there are valid reasons why someone could be fearful of being involved with the church. Sadly, the Christian culture has shown itself to be judgmental and not accepting of certain people. This is a horrible reality that we as Christians need to correct. It brings God zero glory to judge others or to not accept them, especially when they have the heart to serve and follow God's lead in spreading the Good News.
If we are truly trying to bring God glory, we will love rather than judge, and we will accept people rather than condemning them. The only person who can judge or condemn us is God Himself. As the hands and feet of Jesus in the modern day, we need to point people to Jesus, not away from Him. If you fear being involved with the church because of judgment and past hurt, know you're not alone and that there are churches out there that will celebrate your spiritual gifts and welcome you to serve for God's glory.
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A third reason why we are afraid to get involved with the church is because of negative experiences we have had in the past. This has been true for me as briefly mentioned. Due to negative experiences in the past with the church, it has caused me to drift away from the physical church building and caused me to practice more individual servant activities with the Lord. The churches my family and I attended were not serving the Lord, nor were they supportive of the congregation. If you resonate with this reason, you are aware of how much a negative experience in the past can affect your current view of the physical church.
Even the church is not immune to the abuse that happens in the sinful world. Many individuals never return to church or choose not to get involved with the church because they were abused within the walls of a church. Whether by a pastor, an elder, or another member of the church, the person no longer feels comfortable being involved or going to church. For individuals such as these, we need to treat them kindly and help them. We shouldn't guilt trip them into going to church, but rather meet them where they are.
Jesus always met people where they were. He didn't tell them they had to be perfect before He would help them or use them for His glory. Rather, He healed the sick, the blind, and the demon-possessed before they even knew who He was–the Messiah. In the same way, we need to meet individuals where they are and refrain from pushing them into an uncomfortable zone. If house Bible studies are what they need or Zoom calls, as the church, we need to acknowledge their needs and help them as best we can.
A fourth reason why we are afraid of getting involved with the church is because we are worried it won't make a difference. As someone who has helped in children's ministry, it can be hard sometimes to know if what I did made a difference or not. Was it just a summer club for them, or did it really help them know more about Jesus? Thoughts like these have plagued my mind for ages, wondering if the church is even doing the right thing by investing so much time, energy, and resources into children's ministry or other ministries. Sometimes we can feel as though nothing we are doing is making a difference for God.
It is at these times when we need to truly see if what we are doing is making a difference. It is not good just to keep doing something if we know we aren't doing anything for God. Rather than just focusing on one ministry, as the church, we need to focus on the whole and monitor the position of our hearts. If children's ministry is going great in your church, keep it up! However, if it isn't, maybe it's time to reassess and see what needs to change. While I used children's ministry as an example, you can place any ministry in this example and see if it truly makes a difference or needs a God-ordained re-vamp.
As human beings, we want to know that what we are doing is making a difference. Nobody likes busy work. Rather, we want to know what we are working towards centers on the end goal of serving Christ. We are afraid if we get involved with the church that we will somehow not make a difference or even turn some away from Christ. Therefore, it is important that we look behind the reasons we are afraid and address our fears. It is only when we address our insecurities that we can have true growth and be the Body of Christ to the lost world.
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