Ananova - Churches told to ditch 'Jesus on a cross' image: "Churches told to ditch 'Jesus on a cross' image......Churches are being urged to drop the image of the Crucifixion and instead highlight the social benefits of filling the pews in an effort to boost Sunday attendance"

There is clearly for many an image problem for non-churchgoers. Some of this article outlines the fair points that people need to see church as something socially desirable to do and the admen came up with the slogans 'Get a life- go to church' and 'medicine for the soul'.

Perhaps though it is a commentary on our self-centred needs-focus that even when we consider whether to go to church or not the focus is on us and what we can get out of it.

Church is not a provider of services that as the consumer we choose acording to our latest fancy. Community is not about what I can get, but rather what I can give. Maybe when talking about the social benefits of church we shouls focus on the help we can provide for our neighbour by being at Church. Perhaps we should ask not what the church can do for us but rather what we can do for the church.

Of course, even this is missing the point. Church always has been about Jesus on a cross, and whilst we need to make church as attractive as possible this is almost like telling McDonalds to stop serving hamburgers and sell healthy salads! Mind you, it is possible to get organic milk in McDonalds for the kids these days!

Its true as the article goes on to say that many of us feel we are missing something. Is it that by making ourselves God and pandering to our every need and desire we block ourselves off from the one thing that gives us meaning and purpose. Many these days realise that part of the problem is the breakdown of relationships, and for sure part of the reason I go to church is because my friends are there. Maybe part of the success of the Alpha Course is because of its emphasis on relationships. But relationships in my local church spring out of the fact that we all have a Relationship in common.

My very young son puts me to shame in his vivid, real relationship with Jesus. 'Its alright dad we will find our way, I just asked Jesus that we would stop being lost'...'Look dad, I'm going to hit the ball properly with this cricket bat because I just asked Jesus'. He may make Jesus sound like a slot machine (I never taught him to import his growing childish faith to such every day life matters, but he does!) but at least he is real to him.

It has always been the case that the one thing that keeps me sane in this crazy world is the belief that there is a God who is in charge of matters both big and small.

The best 'social benefit' of going to church is sharing the company of the most engaging individual ever. From the cross Jesus with arms stretched wide looks down through history and welcomes us to a relationship with him and his people. It that this is what society today is missing.