"I worship God better at home. I am in the Word all the time and I listen to Christian music all day long." "I can feel the presence of God right out in my fishing boat." "I have my church right out in the woods when I go hunting." Such are some of the statements I have heard as a pastor over the last two decades. God and me, not God and we.
I first became a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ in 1986, preaching from the pulpit and pastoring a small congregation. I took a year off in 1994, directing a Christian camp. but returned to pastoring in 1995 and have pastored in every year since, so I am in my 21st year of being a pastor for my Lord and Savior. And I have heard a lot of folks say that they did not need church, that they could do it on their own.
But I always remind them that the church needs them. They are blessed to be a blessing -- and they can bless others in church. Think of God and others first -- do not think only about yourself. And don't think that you know everything -- God has lots more to teach all of us, and one of the primary ways He teaches people is in the local church.
Well, the Bible clearly points us to worshipping God TOGETHER in a worshipping community. There’s no such thing as the Lone Ranger Christian. Worshipping God is an interactive experience. It’s meant to be shared with others. Even if you can’t understand everything or if you can’t find the Book of Malachi if your life depended upon it — spending time in church teaches you that God’s family is a whole lot bigger than your own. Get this: Heaven is gonna be packed with all kinds of people praising and worshipping God. Church is a good place to prepare. What’s more, our church family keeps us accountable.
Going to church plugs you into God’s truth. It does not matter how much you read the Bible or listen to Christian TV, you will probably get something from your pastor that is even more powerful, because the Holy Spirit is leading him or her to preach it. We need to focus on God. Face it, we encounter a lot of distractions during the week — at school, on TV, in the computer games we play. Too many things can pull us away from God. Sunday mornings give us a spiritual ZAP — and get us back on track.
Church gives you a fresh chance to be fed from God’s Word. Now you might say, "But, Pastor, I can do that by reading the Bible; can’t I have a day off?" And I would ask, what if your Mom had used that approach in cooking meals? "We feed you six days every week. Why don’t you take a day off from eating?" I don’t think you’d be amused. And church is a special spiritual meal -- it is the time the family dines together at the table of the Lord!
It's illogical to say that you are merely part of the worldwide, universal church, yet refuse to gather with the segment of that universal church that exists in your geographical area. It would be like claiming you have a car, when the right fender is in Des Moines, the engine is in Algona, and the wheels are in Mason City! You don't have a car; you have the beginning of the inventory for a junkyard. It just won't function until the pieces are put together. Likewise, the church must be together to carry out many of its purposes.
The Bible tells us that we need to attend church so we can worship God with other believers and be taught His Word for our spiritual growth (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25). Church is the place where believers can love one another (1 John 4:12), encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13), “spur” one another (Hebrews 10:24), serve one another (Galatians 5:13), instruct one another (Romans 15:14), honor one another (Romans 12:10), and be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32). For a church body to function properly, all of its "body parts" need to be present (1 Corinthians 12:14-20). Likewise, a believer will never reach full spiritual maturity without the assistance and encouragement of other believers (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). Showing God's love,wives and husbands should always to attend worship services with their spouses and children, if at all possible. Your family's love witnesses of His love!
The local church is important because God chose to make it important. If it is important to be children of God and to be saved from sin, then the church is important, for these are the people in the church. If the purpose of God is important, then the church is, too, because the church is a fundamental part of God's eternal plan.
If Jesus' death is important, then the church is important, because Jesus died for the church. If worship and gospel preaching are important, then the church is important, because these are what the Lord established the church to accomplish.
The church is important because of its relationship to God and to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The church is the family of God, the body and kingdom of Christ. The church fulfills the purpose of God. The church was purchased by the blood of Jesus. The church exists to worship God and preach His message, witnessing and making disciples for Him. To attend the church is a way to exalt God and respect His almighty will.
No comments:
Post a Comment