Do you really need to go to church?
I think – no.
Why?
Because, in my humble opinion, the people who populate church pews today seem to have adopted the holier-than-thou mentality, an attitude that does not belong in a God-fearing, Bible-professing group of Christians.
Jesus sure did not act that way.
Last I read the Good Book, Jesus came to save the sinners, not the righteous. Even the apostle Paul recognized this and confessed, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” 1 Timothy 1:15 (NIV)
Why go to church if you come away upset? And, I am not talking about the upset that occurs when the pastor’s message hits too close to home, convicting me of my sin. I am talking the kind of upset that happens when your fellow Christians act in an un-Christian manner.
Why go to church if you spend the next week wondering what you did to deserve such treatment?
Why go to church if your fellow parishioners are cold and lack understanding?
Why go to church, if, when you need them most, your fellow Christians choose to turn their collective backs on your misery?
Think about it folks. What would Jesus have done? Would He have humiliated, intimidated, ignored His flock?
The answer is simple, no, He would not.
What Jesus did was take on our sins, all of our sins – yours and mine – nailed them to the cross, ensuring eternal life in Him, if only we believe.
Belief, however, comes with responsibilities.
We’ll explore some of those responsibilities as we work through this series in the next few weeks.
As you go about your day, I offer this prayer, Psalm 67 (NIV), for you and me –
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
6 The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Amen
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