There is a difference between our worshiping God personally and corporately (church).

We are called children of God. There is an incredible closeness between a child and a loving Father.

But, when we worship as a body (church) we are called Christ’s “bride”.  There is a whole new level of intimacy we experience when we the bride/body worships and the child worships.  Both are vital to our growth, and each type of relationship must be a priority.

It’s been said a thousand times, “I’m spiritual but not religious” or, “I love God but not church” or, “God’s great but I don’t like organized religion”.  We know there is something wrong with human “religion” so many begin to question all religion.  As for the idea of not attending church out of duty or guilt, I agree totally.  And the representation that many churches give of a vital relationship with our Lord is so messed up its sinful.  Church is supposed to be accepting of people, excited about meeting Christ, intimate and real with one another, and yes, even fun!  However, not connecting to a church as a reaction to our dissatisfaction is also wrong.  God says that He builds the body and that body is to do His will on earth.  Each of us makes up a vital part of that body.  What if your eye said, “I don’t feel like working this week”?  Would that affect the function of the whole body?  Yes!  Or what if your hand said, “I don’t care for this body I’ve been attached to.  I’m going to wander around to different bodies”?  That hand is only thinking of itself and not how it is part of a bigger whole.  Its selfishness hampers the body it was designed to be a part of.

This is how I believe the Bible directs us to live:
1. Build our personal relationship with Jesus daily through prayer and Bible study.  Make it real.  Don’t stop until you feel you have truly surrendered your will to the Father.
2. Thrive in community - church and small groups.  Pray and pray that God leads you to the church body (we’d love it if that was 24-Seven) and small group you were designed for.  It should worship in both Spirit and in Truth.  “I like that one” should not be the deciding factor, rather, God has led me here to serve and be part of this family.  Don’t jump around when things don’t go your way.  If things are not going as you want, remember they seldom do in our earthly families either.  If you want to see change, be the change.  Every word and deed should strengthen, not tear down the body.
3. Serve.  Find out how God has gifted you and what your passions are then get plugged in.  Also find a need based ministry too (no one is gifted at sweeping or cleaning toilets but someone has to do it).  Jesus was/is the ultimate servant.  You cannot grow if you do not serve.
4. Share.  Find a way to share your faith regularly.  Be creative.  One of the ways we help our churches become effective at sharing Jesus in our cities is to give regularly and faithfully with tithes and offerings.

If we decide to skip even one of these ingredients, we are like a cake without the sugar, or flour, or water - it’s really not worth much nor very satisfying.

What if groups of people came together and passionately gave their lives TOTALLY to the cause of Christ?  Are we ready to change the world?

God bless on your journey!

Steve
You posted this question back in March and it has bounced around inside of my head since then.

Do “WE” need to go to church. Great question. and I like your answers.

I have come to realize I’ve been asking the question, Do “I” need to go to church? Really a very different question with different answers.
When I focus on the “I” the answer is yes and no, and then an internal struggle and battle ensues.

When i focus on the Do “WE” need to go to church? The answer is a peaceful and power full yes.

Church is a “WE”, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and all of us. Together.

Pastor Steve,

I agree with you totally! And what I’ve come to find in my quest to answer that very same question, is that I need to attend church not only to be edified but also to help or just lend a listening ear to those around me.

My personality type is melancholic so my inclination is to be introverted. However, I’ve found that we learn things from people when we go to church that we would not under any other circumstance have to opportunity of discussing and people also get the assistance they need especially with “issues of the heart”.

As Seventh Day Adventist we have very peculiar beliefs and it’s reassuring to be among a group of people that can understand you when you speak about things of that nature.

And as I also recall Jesus spent time everyday alone with God in His personal worship space which indicated that He had a personal relationship with God and He could have stopped there. But He also went among the people trying to make the scriptures clearer for them to understand and also he listened to their views and opinions.

So Jesus understood the importance of both personal devotions as well as social interactions revealing the character of God - which is what church is really about!!!

Hah, well said! I used to have a simpler understanding of church, it was that it was just a place to go where other people would help you worship. Now I see that fellowship is a form of worship. God loves to see us edifying eachother. The thing that I personally love most about fellowship is when someone had a different perspective of what makes God cool, when they share it wih me I get hit AGAIN and AGAIN with… “Woah, God is even bigger and more amazing than I thought!...and I already thought he was REALLY cool and amazing” You get the idea!...boy I should work on my vocabulary.

LOL. I know exactly how you feel .I am discovering how “cool” God really is and every time I get a revelation I feel the same “Woah” experience and I thank God that His thoughts are higher than mine. I take pride in knowing that I can never know too much cause it helps me to know that I’ll never be board in heaven and that God is really in control of all things !!!

Take care and good night to all !!!

God works on all levels of our universe. Hs is aware of the position and rotation of every moun, lepton, and quark. Not only that he can change any given atom in any way he pleases. What does that mean to us? There are miracles happening all around us that we aren’t even aware of. If it was left alone… the earth would slowly grow more chaotic and cold.

I agree with you. Thanks for the inspiring words. It totally changed my perception.

Regards,
Bernadet
Ordinateur portable pas cher