Religiosity and The Church

I recently read of a new Atheist "church" about to be launched in London.  It is interesting but not surprising.  There are even many Christians who seem to value going to church primarily for the social, musical, or ritualistic element - rather than obedience to the scriptural command to assemble together and worship God corporately as Christ's spiritual "body" on earth.  If the primary motivations for Christians often don't depend on theological convictions, then the reasons they DO go to church would probably be attractive to Atheists as well.  I think this "church" is an example of this.  This seems to also be evidence for an inherent religiosity among humans- even among the supposedly non-religious.

The social, ritual, and musical reasons are all powerful reasons for church-going.  However, for Christians they should never dominate.  The more they do, the more "religious" we may become - but the less Christian we will be.  In my own life I actually am not that attracted to the social, musical, or ritualistic element of church-going.  If I was not convinced of the scriptural command to assemble together for worship, of Christ's own institution of the physical "church",  and of the Biblical teaching of the church being representative of Christ's body on earth, I simply would not attend.  I would use that time for something else.  I am simply much more interested in Christianity and Christ than I am in Churchianity and religiosity.

Why is this important?  Christians need to make the preaching and hearing of the Word (God's Truth and marching orders) of utmost importance in the church.  The less this is done, then the more the side-benefits of church attendance will seem to be the main reasons for it.  When this happens, people like me who care little for the side elements will simply not attend.  This is already happening.  This is one reason I think church attendance has plummeted in many areas and among many denominations.

Still,  people who care little for God or are complete Atheists - but like the side benefits (mentioned in the first paragraph) will launch their own "churches." They will still value the churchiness of church. These churches will be almost indistinguishable from the supposedly "Christian" churches they mimic.  Style will reign over substance and the Christian church on earth will seem to have lost its saltiness.  This too is already happening.  Religiosity does not save the sinner from the wrath of God.  Time for another Reformation.