Why Go To Church?
At the present time in my life I am taking a fresh look at the church as it is mentioned in the Bible. The word church is used about 120 times in the Bible. However, Jesus spoke of the church only twice.
Why did Jesus invent the church? Why go to church? I have friends who hardly ever miss and I have friends who hardly ever go?
If you do not go to church, why? I would love to know. I would love to hear from you. Probably it is because you were wounded somewhere along the way. Maybe all you can see are hypocrites in the church. Still others may say, “What’s the point?”
Many people in our mother country never darken the door of a church. They do not see how it has any relevance in their lives.
For people who do go to church, the question is also an appropriate one – why go to church?
Some people go out of habit, tradition, guilt, to make professional contacts, or to be with friends.
Some people go out of a sense of obligation, their love for their pastor, the people, and/or the whole worship experience.
I am unapologetic when I say, I love seeing people at church. It is much more fun and interactive to preach to people and teach people than to speak to an empty pew.
To give a clear answer to the question (why go to church), I believe a good reason to go is for you. For what it does for you. That might sound a little selfish and self-serving, but I see it as a very biblical and healthy way to live.
God created us with a vacuum inside, a God-shaped vacuum that only genuine worship can fill. As people we were created by God. It is not a matter of if we will worship but what we will worship. The fact is we all worship something or someone.
When our God-shaped vacuum is fill with worship of the One, True, Living God, He is glorified and you are blessed.
The way you were made, you are body, soul, and spirit. Your spirit is nourished and blessed with worship of God. Your body and soul (mind, will, and emotions) are also blessed when you worship God.
To close, I believe a few good reasons to go to church beyond worship includes – fellowship, spiritual growth, serving others out of your spiritual giftedness, caring for others, leaning more about prayer and its power, as well as an answer to isolation.
We all need ample amounts of me time, but we can get too much of a good thing. A continuous diet of isolation will kill a person. This deterioration happens because we were made for fellowship, relationship, (a.k.a. community).
If you would like to chat about church, give me a call. If you have been out of church for a while, how about giving it another try?
