Skip to main content

Divine Appointments

I have heard many people on various occasions say, “I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian”.  The last time I heard it; a friend that I care very much about, was saying it.  I have to tell you that whenever I hear this I cringe, and I die a little inside. Today, I want to tell you why, in my opinion, this statement is not only completely false; but it may be spiritually lethal.

I could tell you that that Bible says in Hebrews 10:25 “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”   However, I think it would be better to explain why I see Christians gathering together as not just a good idea; it’s critical to the body of Christ and our own spiritual well-being.

First, going to church is vital if the body of Christ is to function correctly.  The Bible in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 suggests that we are the body of Christ, emphasis on body.  The problem is that while we are the body of Christ, each of us on our own is not the whole body.  I may be a hand, and you may be a foot or an eye.  The foot, by itself, is useless.  Likewise, the hand or the eye, or any other part of the body for that matter, is no good if it’s not attached to the rest of the body.  When we meet together, it, somehow, joins us to the rest of the body so that we are enabled do the work of Christ. Meeting with other Christians provides us with encouragement and strengthens us when we feel weak.

Secondly, but just as necessary, our desire to go to church is a direct indication of our spiritual condition.   I go to church because I love God, and I want to show him that I love him. It is like reading the Bible, praying, and or having quiet time with God; it is an outward demonstration of my love for God.  Think of it this way, if you were dating but your girlfriend/boyfriend never wanted to spend time with you; would you say they loved you?  No, of course not!  If they love you, truly love you they will have a desire to spend time with you.  The same is true of our relationship with God. The less time you spend with him; the farther you are from him. Likewise, the closer we are to God, the more we will want to be in his house and with his people.



I am in no way saying that if you are not in church every Sunday you are headed for hell.  I am saying that if you never go to church; you may need to determine if you truly love God. Let’s not neglect being in God’s house with God’s people.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Thank you God for Leading us

Thank you God for how you lead us. Like a shepherd leading his sheep. Sometimes through the words you spoke in the Bible, your written word. at other times, it was the wise words from friends,  coworkers,or neighbors spoken at just the right time. Still other times it was a gentle tug,   a whisper to our heart to move  in one direction or another;  intuition or a sixth sense that one   way or another was right or wrong    Yet, when I listened and obeyed   I found the way was clear, distinct and easy to follow. You never leave us to guess which way to go.                                                                                                      ...

Grow Old Gracefully

I’d like to tell you about a lady I visited yesterday.   She is ninety-five years young.  She recently moved into nursing home.  She asked one of the workers how many times she would have to walk around the outside of the building in order to walk a mile.  She said the person told her about ten.   Then she leaned in really close and whispered, “I walked around twelve just to be sure I walked a mile.”  Hahahaha! What a lady!  She loves to keep active, even in a nursing home.  As we talked, I saw no anger or bitterness in her speech or actions. There was only a love for God, a heart of compassion, and a sense of humor. She has befriended the one "prickly pear" at the home because as she said, “I have to love her, so she knows Jesus loves her too.”  Wow!!! I need to live like that!  I want to show that much compassion for those around me that need Jesus.  She loved to talk about God and what he was teaching her. ...

What’s That Smell?

To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. 2Corinthians 2:16 Last break!  The shift was almost over. Then the unthinkable happened, this man appeared out of nowhere wanting to know where the flashlights were kept.  As we were on our way to the flashlights, I noticed that this man had a very strong odor.  I thought perhaps I could get in front of him so that the smell would not be as strong.   That, however, was not to be either since; he insisted on keeping pace and walking right beside me. By the time we got to where the flashlights were; I was practically running just to keep ahead of him.  I showed him the flashlights and made a hasty exit.  If you’re like me, you shower and even put on perfume or cologne so that you will not stink.  We are concerned that the smell coming from our body is not offensive to others.  As I write this, I wonder if we are as concerned with our spiritual aroma as ...