ACE #50: Churches and Liquor Stores

We have so many reasons (or maybe excuses) why we do not attend church.  Here's a few:

• Sunday is the only day I get to sleep in
• "Church people" are so fake and hypocritical
• All the church wants is money
• I can't find a "good" church
• I do not trust pastors/preachers
• There's more hell in church than there is Jesus
• Religion doesn't help me at all
• "They" hurt my feelings
• If "Harry" is going to church and I know what he's doing, then church can't be for me
• Church is too long
• Sunday is my family day (maybe I should remove this one because church is open other days of the week too now)
• I'm a good person; I don't need church
• "Church folk" are always in your business
• I just don't want to go

Honestly, I can't even argue that some of this is not true.  However, Hebrews 10:25, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." The King James Version uses the word "forsake" (rather than give up), which can mean "to turn away".  There's a level of commitment to attending church regularly and becoming a part of kingdom building. We are committed to our jobs, our homes, our image, our reputations, our friends, and our families.  There's also a level of accountability.  We "play by the rules" of the world, but are hesitant to do the same when it comes to God's word and The Ten Commandments.   Then there are things or behaviors we'd either have to change or, at least, evaluate.

But what's the real reason we should find a church home?  We can learn and grow from our brothers and sisters in Christ. We can also receive spiritual support.  And it is a place where we are supposed to learn more about God. Every now and then we need someone to pray for us and to present us at the altar when we don't have the strength enough to do it ourselves! We need to have prayer and accountability partners as we grow in our faith. It keeps us balanced and will help us restore order when we go astray. I know people who think that watching church on TV is the same.  How?  What are we giving back to God if we are sitting on our couches? How are we blessing someone else? How are we showing faithfulness to God? To truly worship God in spirit and in truth, we must have a servant's attitude.  What servant was ever permitted to sit on the couch and watch TV?

There's really no valid reason not to find a church that fits who you are...if you're willing to invest the time in looking for one.  I constantly remind myself, "Don't be less faithful to God and more faithful to the world".  Your "church" might be a traditional building, someone's home, a gymnasium, under a shelter, or wherever people gather and set time aside intentionally and collectively to praise and worship God on one accord.  Many churches are doing awesome missionary work in the community.

If you don't have a church home, don't use that as an excuse not to go to a house of God for worship at all. If you still choose not to go to church, the word of God is still, and will always be, available and valuable.  However, it is our prayer that you choose to unite with a church family.  You don't agree with everything your Facebook friends and Twitter followers post.  So keep in mind, you might not always agree with what the pastor says, but you shouldn't expect to.  Read the word of God and pray for God to lead you to your "best fit".  After all, there's a church (and a liquor store) on every corner.  They're both everywhere... 

 

Image credit:  Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_11026344