Why Go To Church?
Posted: Monday, July 14, 2008
by Laura Trahan
I have recently struggled with the whole notion of church as my family knows it. I have been tempted lately to skip church more and more. When I do go, often times, I find myself focused on other things or doodling while I sit sneaking peaks at the clock.
I was hesitant to write about this mainly out of fear of offending someone or turning someone away from God. Either things I would never want to do.
I realize that some of this temptation not to go is in direct relation to me not being in God's word as much as I should be during this time. I know what the Bible says about corporate worship.
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his boday, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 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.
Hebrews 10:19-25
I admit that last sentence hurts! Ouch! Here is a second section that tells about the church.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42-47
I recently read a book that talked about the early church. They mostly met in small groups and homes. Maybe that is what I have a hard time with lately. With our fast paced society and the amount of work to get done, I just see church as a waste of time. The sermons are all repeats. The Sunday school class is the same lessons. The only time I feel I am connecting with God in the church is during our small group study or in a women's Bible study. So, it is hard for me to see the relevance of going to corporate worship.
I wasn't raised in church. My parents quit going when I was around the age of nine because our pastor had an affair with a married woman in our church. We also found out at the time he was embezzling money. Was that a reason to quit church? No, it wasn't. But my parents did. Quick warning: pastors are human too and will make mistakes.
After that, I tried to attend with friends as much as possible. I hated not being in church. My parents would continually lecture that you did not have to go to church to have a relationship with God.
I disagreed. Without church as a kid, I think it is hard to get the discipleship aspect of it down. I still disagree with those who believe that not going to church is a good thing. I just haven't seen or felt that in a long time on Sunday mornings. I believe my children should be raised in church because of my past. I am just having a hard time motivating myself, only to get there and be bored out of my mind to make it through an entire service.
Don't get me wrong. I love the church we go to. The people at the church are some of the most amazing people I have ever met. The church has supported my family in ways I would have never imagined. I am not sure what it is about the church that makes me not want to go every week, but it is there. I don't know if it the music, the lack of being challenged, etc.
I repeat the question. Why do you go to church? Why do you go to the church that you attend? What do you look for in a church? Do you ever struggle to go? Do you feel that the church God talks about in the Bible is the same view we have of church today?
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Interesting question Laura! I find it fascinating that the two verses you've quoted are the closest things we have to a New Testament command to "go to Church".
Even in these verses it would seem that we are not told to go to a building, sing some worship songs and then listen to a sermon. It's like the main point of meeting together is fellowship and encouragement. I don't know about you, but I find that Sunday morning at Church is one of the least likely places to find real fellowship.
My life isn't like this any more, but I used to say that going to Church was when I went to a place I didn't go any other time of the week, dress in clothes I wouldn't wear any other day of the week, and see people I wouldn't see any other place during the week. How could it have any real meaning in my life?
I would never discourage anyone from going to Church, but I believe it is much more important for Christians to have real Christian friends to hang out with, where there is real give-and-take and a constant two-way dialog of the real issues of today and what the Bible says about the issues.
when you read acts 2 you'lll notice that 3,000 people accepted the lord that first day of Pentecost when the holy spirit fell on the crowd when Peter preached that sermon. Yes that was a sermon! The total congregation met in the Temple Courts which was thousands of people. They also broke out into small groups and met in homes and broke bread as well. When referencing the example in Acts 2 it seems that both was done. IT seems to me that going to the major congregation and breaking out into the small group meeting is what the early church did in this passage. So the conclusion would be that its probably best to do both. You dont' have to chose betweeen going to church or doing small groups. Participate in both! Church is great privelage there are many countries where people are risking there lives just to go to Church. I believe its a privelage that we all tend to take for granted including myself, but its the chance to meet with a body of beleivers and celebrate the lord! Praise the lord through music, giving , worship and other acts. The small groups in turn usuallly give you the chance to dig deeper into the word with people, ask , answer questions, and help people in their walk. Both of these things are very helpful and I believe according to Acts it seems that thats how God designed the Church to be because that's how they did it in the Bible.
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