Why Do I Need Church
Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>
Why can't I worship God in the comfort of my home, enjoying
the best preaching and music TV has to offer? Why can't I just
enjoy being alone out in the woods - just God and I and the
pine trees? Why can't I meet God at the water's edge, wiggling
my toes in the warm sand? Why do I really need church?
I need church because it's a family reunion. Jesus said, "Who
is My family? Those who do My will" (Mark 3:33,35). We are
a family - rejoicing with one another, crying with one another,
helping each other. We need each other's support.
I need church because it's a classroom. I'm preparing for a
mission; I'm on an extended course of study. For the rest of
my life I'm enrolled in a course of Christian discipleship.
I need church because it's a refuge. The sanctuary is a place
to get away from the busyness of the world. It's a mini-retreat.
It's a place to focus my thoughts on things above, to worship.
I need church because it's like a billboard. As my neighbors
see me go down to that building on the corner week after
week, they can tell what is important in my life. If all my
brothers and sisters are there, too, the neighbors may wonder
what is going on that attracts people so regularly.
I need church because it's a memorial service. Imagine that I
had been in a war and one of my buddies threw himself on an
enemy hand grenade to save me - and it killed him. Suppose I
learned there was to be a memorial service for him in my
hometown. Would I be there? Of course! And since Jesus died
for me, it's to honor Him that I attend His memorial service.
It's to honor Him that I remember His death by taking communion.
I need church because it's a victory celebration. Jesus left an
empty tomb. We can celebrate His resurrection together. At
least one day a week should be set aside for remembering
Jesus' triumph over death and Satan.
Finally, I need church because it's a time to spend with my
Father. I'm a child of God. As my Father, He's not cold and
aloof. He delights in spending time with me, and I want to
be with Him. God wants to reveal His plans to me. And I want
to get in on the details, to cooperate with Him.
But He's not only my Father; He's our Father. And Christ is
not just my Savior; He's our Savior. Jesus said that when two
or three are gathered together in His name, He is there
(Matthew 18:20). And God has warned me not to forsake
gathering with other believers (Hebrews 10:25).
I need church because I'm a part of a family, I have lots to
learn, and I need to have a retreat. I know what my priorities
are. I respect Christ's death and am overjoyed by His
resurrection. I want to spend time with my Father and
other believers.
That's why I need church!
delightful creature called a boy. Boys come in assorted sizes, weights
and colors, but all boys are the same. Boys are found everywhere -- on
top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running
around or jumping to.
Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older brothers and sisters
tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them.
A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger,
Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the hope of the future with a
frog in its pocket.
When you want him to make a good impression, his brain turns to jelly,
or else he becomes a savage, sadistic jungle creature bent on destroying
the world.
A boy is a composite -- he has the appetite of a horse, the digestion of
a sword swallower, the energy of an atom bomb, the curiosity of a cat,
the lungs of a dictator, the shyness of a violet and when he makes
something, he has five thumbs on each hand.
A boy is a magical creature -- you can lock him out of your workshop,
but you can't lock him out of your heart. Might as well give up -- he is
your captor, your jailer, your boss and your master -- a freckled face,
pint size, cat chasing bundle of noise.
But when you come home at night with only the shattered pieces of your
hopes and dreams, he can mend them like new with the two magic words,
"HI, DAD!" (And "HI MOM" ain't so bad either! )
I do not mail idea-central unsolicited. If you are receiving this newsletter from me it's because you have subscribed to this mailing list. If you receive this newsletter and are not a subscriber then someone, other than me, has forwarded it to you.
| Normal Subscribe: | idea-central-subscribe@welovegod.org |
| Normal Unsubscribe: | idea-central-unsubscribe@welovegod.org |
| Web Subscribe: | idea-central-allow-subscribe@welovegod.org |
| Web Unsubscribe: | idea-central-allow-unsubscribe@welovegod.org |
| Email Group Owner: | idea-central-owner@associate.com |
-- To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: idea-central-unsubscribe@welovegod.org