Why would you avoid church? Let’s check the attitude department.
Do you think . . .
- there are too many hypocrites in church?
- the church is only after your money?
- the sermons are too long and boring?
- you feel saved without attending worship services?
- you attend only to do God a favor?
- life is too busy and you can get by without God?
- all of the above?
When mother makes a meal, she doesn’t need to thank you because she fed you. Nor does God need to thank you because he has provided you with spiritual nourishment.
We go to church to feed a starved soul. We also go to offer God praise and thanksgiving for his many blessings to us.
Christ established his church to offer comfort and forgiveness to all sinners. The Lord cries out, “Comfort, comfort my people” (Isaiah 40:1).
The chief responsibility of pastors is not to brow beat members or give visitors a guilt trip. God wants everyone to have the hope of eternal life. That hope is offered only through the sin-washing and life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ.
If I am avoiding church because my spiritual values don’t agree with Christ’s, I am in serious trouble. I don’t want to die in that condition.
When it comes to church, what the Bible says really makes sense, “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 [of judgment] approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
God loves you with an everlasting love. He demonstrated this love by sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to live perfectly for you, and to die innocently to pay for your sins. Worship him!
“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). Then whatever storms of life bear down on you, you will be able to weather them all.
See you in church.
Pastor R.