Why Jesus Probably Would Have Preferred a Potluck Over Sunday Service

It's not what you think, OK maybe it is.

Ah, the church! That mystical place where people gather to sing, pray, and collectively wonder why they didn’t bring a snack. But what if I told you that Jesus, the original hipster who wore sandals and had a thing for fish and bread, never actually commanded people to “go” to church? Shocking, I know! Instead, he encouraged us to “be” the church. Imagine that! It’s like he was the first life coach, but instead of a motivational poster of a cat hanging from a tree, he was all about love, compassion, and maybe a little less judgment than we see on Yelp reviews.

The Great Gathering (or the Potluck Dilemma)

Picture this: a long time ago, in a land without Wi-Fi, Jesus gathered a group of his closest friends. They weren’t discussing the latest episode of "Who Wants to be a Disciple?" No, they were probably having a potluck. You know, the kind where one person brings a suspicious casserole, and everyone else pretends to enjoy it while secretly plotting their escape to the nearest taco truck.

“Blessed are the cheese-makers,” Jesus might have said, as he tucked into some mediocre lasagna. And let’s be honest, what could be more church-like than a potluck? You've got the community, the food, and the inevitable awkwardness of trying to remember everyone’s names. It’s like a spiritual version of speed dating. Except instead of looking for love, you’re just trying to find someone who shares your opinion on whether pineapple belongs on pizza. (Spoiler: it does, and if you disagree, we can fight about it over a slice!)

The Bible – A Life Manual or a Really Long Book?

Now, let’s talk about the Bible. It’s this enormous, ancient text filled with everything from poetry to genealogies – to genocides that read like the world’s longest family reunion invitation. But Jesus didn’t exactly hand out homework assignments to read every word literally. No, he was more about the “living” than the “mindless reading” and trying to one-up everyone with you memorization skills.

Imagine if we treated the Bible like an IKEA manual. “Step 1: Gather your friends. Step 2: Attempt to assemble love and kindness. Step 3: Realize that you’re missing a crucial part and now your bookshelf is just a pile of wood.”

Instead of turning to the Bible for a verse to quote when we’re feeling down, what if we actually lived out its messages? You know, like helping the neighbor who has a yard that looks like it’s been through a natural disaster or giving that extra dollar to the kid selling lemonade (even if it’s actually iced tea mixed with lemonade).

Living the Teachings (Without the Guilt Trip)

Let’s be real: nobody wants to feel guilted into being good. It’s fake an a lot like being told to eat your vegetables when you’d rather be devouring a whole cheesecake. But the essence of Jesus’s message was about living a life of love, generosity, and kindness. It’s like the ultimate life hack: “Be the best version of yourself, and you won’t need a lot of self-help books.”

And yet, we often find ourselves trapped in a cycle of guilt. “Oh no, I didn’t volunteer at the soup kitchen last week! I’m a terrible person!” Relax, my friend. You don’t need to hand out sandwiches to prove your worth. Sometimes, being a decent human being is as simple as not honking your horn in traffic or holding the door open for someone.

The Church of Everyday Life

What if we thought of the “church” as more than just a building? What if it was a state of mind? You could be at the grocery store, and that’s your church. As you navigate the aisles, you’re living out those teachings. “Thou shalt not engage in grocery cart rage!” But don’t get yourself attached to the “I’m Better Than You, pay attention and do what I say.”

Imagine a world where every mundane moment was infused with purpose hopefully a good purpose, like praying for Satan’s salvation and, let’s face it, who in all eternity has ever prayed for the one who needs it the most. The barista at your local coffee shop? That’s your congregation. The kid who’s just trying to sell cookies outside the supermarket? A community leader in training! Every interaction is a chance to “be” the essence of love and kindness that Jesus preached (you, however, need to face facts that you don’t have the credentials, training, of direct access to God) – albeit with a side of caffeine with esoteric elements.

Breaking Down the Walls of Judgment

Let’s address the elephant in the room: judgment. Everybody loves it as long as they are the judge. It’s like the uninvited guest at the potluck who brings a fruitcake and critiques everyone’s cooking. Jesus was all about love, not judgment. He didn’t care if you wore jeans to the sermon or if your hair looked like a bird’s nest. He wanted you to live authentically.

Imagine the revolutionary idea of not judging others! It’s like discovering that your favorite band is coming to town for a surprise concert. “Wait, you mean I don’t have to critique the way others live their lives? I can just focus on living mine?” Mind-blowing, right?

The Absurdity of Perfectionism

We live in a world obsessed with perfection. Social media tells us we need to post only the best versions of ourselves, even if we have to make it up. “Look at my avocado toast! Look how perfectly I arranged my succulents!” But Jesus? He was all about authenticity. He didn’t care if you had a bad hair day or if your sandals didn’t match your robe.

What if we embraced our imperfections? Instead of trying to be the perfect disciple, let’s be the flawed, messy versions of ourselves who still try to do good. You don't need to be a saint to show kindness, just like you don’t need to be a Michelin-star chef to make a decent grilled cheese sandwich.

Community Over Competition

The world often feels like a giant game of Survivor, where everyone is out for themselves, ready to vote you off the island at the first sign of weakness. But Jesus promoted community, not competition. Imagine a world where we cheered for each other’s successes instead of comparing ourselves like we’re in a bizarre version of “American Idol.”

“Congratulations on your promotion! I’m thrilled for you! Now, how can I support your dreams instead of trying to sabotage them?” If only we could turn every workplace into a supportive community where we all share snacks and compliments.

The Power of Presence

Let’s wrap this up with a bow – or perhaps a questionable bow tie. Life is happening right now, and Jesus’s teachings encourage us to be present. Too often, we’re stuck in our heads, worrying about the past or stressing about the future. But what if we just took a moment to breathe and appreciate the absurdity of life?

Next time you’re at the grocery store, look around. People are hustling, rushing, and trying to remember if they came for milk or toilet paper. Instead of getting frustrated, join in on the chaos. Smile at the person who clearly forgot where they parked their car for the third time that week. Offer to help someone struggling with a heavy bag.

Be the Church

In summary, Jesus didn’t call us to attend church; he called us to be the church. So go forth, my friends! Live your life as a testament to love, kindness, and the occasional potluck. Embrace your imperfections, cheer for your neighbors, and be present in every moment.

Because at the end of the day, life is too short for guilt, judgment, and pretending we have it all figured out. So let’s all take a deep breath, grab a slice of pizza – pineapple optional – and remember that being the church is about living the teachings, not just reading about them. And who knows? You might just find that your life is a whole lot more fulfilling when you embrace the absurdity of it all.

Now, go forth and share this wisdom (or at least a slice of pizza) with the world!

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