Why Church?
I asked our small group this last night without really insisting on an answer. I just wanted us all to go away and think about why we do this thing called “Church.” Why do you go to Church?
Maybe its a family tradition?
Maybe you met a boy/girl there and they ‘like’ Jesus so you want to keep them sweet?
Maybe you like the singing or the music is really rocking?
Maybe you think you should keep your foot in the door with God and attending scores a few points with Him?
There could be a million other reasons but, why do YOU go to Church?
A comment from me has a risk of becoming babble but hey:
I have struggled with an ‘unsettlement’ with Church and churches since i decided to leave the church i’d grew up in. I’d been redeemed by Jesus around 18 years old and wanted to get to know God’s Word. (The church i was at was rather liberal and had no teaching at all).
Since then church has constantly been an uphill struggle for me, as i fight against the desire to search for a unicorn (a church that doesn’t exist). I desire good worship, great teaching, missional mindsets, community and many more things.
I could pack in Church all together but i’d miss out. Here’s why i fight with myself over Church:
It is Christs appointed way.
That is, He has soveriegnly chose church as the way He would most perfectly minister to us in a thousand ways we would miss out on if we weren’t part of it.
I also go for the benefit of my children, and my childrens children.
That my children grow up in a Godly community and experience Church (as imperfect as it may seem at times) will beat something of a Church, Community mindset into them. Already my 2 year old asks to go to Church each Sunday. My prayer is that he will be spared from my own struggles, and that he will indeed see Christ on display in Church through singing, lessons, teaching, community etc as he grows older.
Something that has become a motive in most of my ‘doings’ including reading my Bible and going to Church is simply ‘To know God’
I pray that He’ll grant further revelation of Him, of His glory and truth. And that i might know Him and Jesus Christ Who He sent in deeper and more experiential ways.
That’s probably enough, apart from saying that it is a constant battle of ‘knowledge’ (the reasons above) verses ‘desire’ (the longing for something better).
I go because church is a community, it is a family to me- they help me learn about God, and worship God alongside them, and I have someone to keep a track of me, to rebuke me and love me. God is not an individualistic God (although, lately the focus has been too much on the ‘personal’ Jesus- whetehr rightly or not.. ) , usually in the Bible God refers to us as multiple, not an individual, and when apostles are talking it’s rarely- “let you be holy etc.. ‘ its almost always ‘Let us..’ I think church is in God’s plans, and it’s not good for person to be outside it (even though person can be christian wihtout going to church- but that is sad- to me it’s like a brick lying in the dirt on a road, instead of being part of a beautiful house).
totally working on my answer for 2 weeks time. so much to think about. it should be an easy answer, but i’ve actually had to stop and start with a few different answers in my head. it will be good on sunday morning to ask myself the question…..
GOOD QUESTION allyimbo.. you should look forward to a long, annoying, probably unaswering answer (with really bad breathing skills in between) from me next laser group.
eek!
Gary & Filipa, thanks for your honest answers….
Christine, remember, i will know if you try to bluff me with the “right answers” but more importantly, Jesus will know! hehe
for community, for excellent, solid theological teaching and for the worship (music part)!