WHY GO TO CHURCH?

Why Go To Church?

 

“Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one
 another,  and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”   Heb. 10:25

            “Why go to church?” is a common statement among those who claim to be a Christian but do not attend.  Then begin the excuses such as; church lasts too long; I don’t like the music; I don’t like the Pastor’s style; why do they always talk about money? Perhaps you don’t like to be involved, or you are too busy. A big excuse is, “They are all hypocrites; they aren’t as spiritual on week days.”

            Whoa, just a minute; I thought Jesus was the only ‘perfect one’.  I never did see a perfect church; neither did Jesus, who described 7 churches in Revelation 2:1-22.  These represent the various churches of today.  I especially relate to verse 15-16 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

            Let’s address some of these issues in depth:

1 – Church lasts too long:  This is a newer excuse than most.  Old Testament: Sabbath (which is our Sunday) was generally all day and they would stand for all those hours just to listen to the Word of God and worship the Lord.  New Testament: When the Apostle Paul preached, he preached so long that one man fell out the open window and was killed.  However, Paul prayed and brought him back to life.  Jesus, himself sometimes preached all day and again the next day. Some of the greatest evangelists of earlier centuries preached hours and hours and drew amazing crowds.  It has only been in the last 100-150 years that people set the Sunday service at 1-hour.  No wonder the Holy Spirit does not show up for these services.

2 – Why do they talk about money all the time?  You need money to run a church; heat, lights, water, upkeep, cleaning, equipment for music; I could go on and on about the cost of running a church If you only make $300 a week and give $30 to the Lord, you will be blessed. (Malachi 3:8-10)  Maybe you think the Pastors get too much money.  Think again; their phones ring day and night and middle of the night.  They go when they are called.  They don’t just preach Sunday and do nothing the rest of the week.  Our Senior Pastor never takes a day off; he’ll travel any distant to be with those who need him.  He is constantly being called by people who no longer attend our church, but he goes when called. He never gets to eat at a regular time, because he never knows when he will be home.  He gives his all.  Our part-time Associate Pastor spends hours at home working on the administrative part of the church.  He does the behind the scene work that no one knows about. Both pastors roll up their sleeves and do a lot of physical work needed to keep up the church.  They unplug toilets and clean floors; they repair things that are broken or cut wood for the wood burner and uncountable other things so you can be comfortable when you come to church. 

3 – You don’t come because everyone is a hypocrite.  Yes, there may be some who are, but I have heard it said that if you find a perfect church, don’t go there because it won’t be perfect then.  We are all different and even if we are saved by the blood of Christ, we are all working out our salvation with fear and trembling.  (Philippians 2:12)  We all have personality flaws and it takes a lifetime to try to become more life Jesus and will never make it until we reach heaven.  God is looking for those who give their best to serve him.  We are all sinners saved by grace.

Having a relationship with God is what should bring you to church and the desire to worship him.  If our mind was on Him and not who does this or that wrong, you would be attending church for the right reason.  If don’t come because of the hypocrites, then you are probably a greater hypocrite.  Think about that!  Worshiping is an encounter with God and hopefully changes our walk with him.

Heb. 10:25 tells to “not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”  Why is that?  We need each other and we are all a part of the body of Christ.  Our moral standards are so low today that we can’t afford to fall to that level if we want to hold our family together. Our children, from very young on, need to go to classes to hear the stories of the Bible.  Actually, how many of you can say the Ten Commandments, let alone live by them?  You see how other people around you live and do the same thing without feeling guilty.  This is why we need to be in church and build your relationship with God.  He gave us a conscience to help us live better and closer to Him.  Do you want your children to grow up to be like the person you are today? 

 

Go to church for you and your family and for God; not for anyone else.