God designated the first day of the week for believers to gather and give Him the glory by encouraging each other, fellowshipping with each other, speaking to one another in psalms hymns and spiritual songs and studying His word. They also gather funds to put towards the work of the church. They also remember Jesus and His sacrifice by taking unleavened bread and fruit of the vine which to the believer is the blood of the covenant and Jesus’s body. The goal of this overall experience is to be strengthened having been with others who share that same faith and goal and to give God the glory and praise realizing that He is worthy. We are prepared and reenergized!
Not all people do this. Sundays will be days set for sleeping in or taking care of odds and ends like laundry other errands. The value of going to assemble with believers is either non-existent or barely there when it is a question of belief. If one isn’t a believer then there is no deisre to gather with other believers much less give praise to that which you don’t believe in.
But if you sorta believe or do believe, and the daily challenges of life are not what’s holding you back, what’s going on? Some people have gone with the view that “organized religion” is not the way. They find fault in that and decide to just do away with it. But let’s take the stance that Jesus established the church. Yes, it is NOT the building. It is the people. However if you are NOT assembling with the people, the other believers, how do you feel we can grow and be effective? How can you yourself be effective and how is that showing godly love? Furthermore collective worship is value you your faith and also shows that you care to give God the praise and worship He deserves. Bare in mind that once the Ethiopian eunich was baptized by Phillip his immediate desire would logically be to gather with those who share the same faith to work and worship. Strength in numbers. Consider any successful secular program or team sport. Basketball teams, Mary Kay meetings, Weight Watchers or any group with similar views values or goals GET TOGETHER. Because it’s necessary. Because no man is an island. Because God knew what He was doing.
If your concern is where to go, treat it same way a restaurateur does. You do the research, you check Yelp and the restaurant guides. Because a bad meal experience is a horrible thing! Well how much more important is deciding where to focus on worshipping God and learning how to get to heaven? Your YELP is God’s word. God’s word is not as cryptic as one may say. See if the local church assembly you consider is FOLLOWING GOD’S WORD. Consider the church of the new testament. Consider the early church in Acts. Consider the doctrine and compare and contrast. Read your bible. That will cause inconsistencies and red flags that can keep you in a lost relationship to stand out. Do your due diligence because this matters to you.
To the nonbeliever, I say you need not be convinced by me that there is an amazing and loving God. Look around. Heck, look in the mirror. Your intricate inner and outer workings— you are wonderfully made. Establish that spritual curiosity the same way you established your many wordly curiosities and go with it. Pick up a Bible and read it. It can’t hurt. It can only help. Because God has a name. I come to prcoclaim to you the unknown God. His name is His name. His Son came to save us…to save you. It’s so cliche but first you must understand that you need Him. You DO need Him. But you need to know why. He is the only one that can beat sin and death which is in the world right now. Sin is the God’s definition of wrong, all the bad things. God defines them clearer in His word. Death is the end of life here. But it’s not the end. Jesus died and came back. Death and sin are 2 major reasons you need Jesus because He is THE ONLY answer to both.
That’s a start… Yes chuch is the people who believe. The people who understood a need for Jesus. The people who obeyed the commands to accept Jesus as their Lord and removed chains of sin and death through spiritual burial in water baptisim and rose up out the water in fresh newness of life. Sin and death are all the devil really has and Jesus beat them both. Finally those believers get together to celebrate freedom, praise the One who broke the chains, teach each other to stay free and how to help others break thier chains.
So church on Sunday morning and any other time addionally that believers gather should be a moment of joy. To be with God and with fellow God-fearing brethren.
Truly a breath of fresh air.
Get yours…
Can’t forget the music. Here is one of my fave bangers by Blanca featuring Lecrae called Get Up
Christian Music Pusher 