It is true that the Bible says the "dead in Christ" shall rise first.  However, I'm not sure it's a good idea to see just how spiritually dead we can be.  Religion for the sake of religion, and rules for the sake of rules is foolishness.

Let Christian faith be real and alive, rooted deeply in the living Christ and not in the forms and rites and rigidity of mortal minds.  Church is not an elite club but a gathering of living souls called out for the Lord Jesus. 

Not all who attend church meetings are born again.  Some are still trying to understand what spiritual life and faith and God are all about.  We should be careful then not to become so snooty that ordinary people will be unable to see past our foolish behavior.

Yes, church buildings cost money and keeping them clean is a lot of work.  Yes, people need to be able to hear what is going on.  Yes, there is a time and place for everything.  But we are certainly no better than our Lord who freely mingled with the throngs of ordinary people — and always put the needs of people first.

In our efforts to maintain order and decency, let's be genuinely warm and caring, outgoing and welcoming.  The Lord Jesus died for the people we may be turning away with our very important rules and restrictions.  As Jesus had compassion on the lepers, reaching out to touch them, let us also have hearts that are open to each other.  Let the world and our own brothers and sisters in Christ see Jesus in us.