This definately falls into the “don’t know whether to laugh or cry” category, but watch this video, and you’ll see what I mean.
But there is an important point here, isn’t there? Rather than point the finger at churches, let’s examine our own hearts. Why do you go to church? I’m sure you could give me some answers: fellowship, worship, hearing the Word read and preached. You probably know Acts 2:42 well enough to know that your answer correspond very closely to that text. And so it should.
But let’s me a bit more specific. Why did you go to church yesterday? Habit? Do take part in the service or some ministry? To meet friends? Because it was Sunday?
It’s easy to lose the big picture on a day-to-day basis, isn’t it? It would be wonderful if I could tell you that yesterday I woke up bright and early, delighted that it was the Lord’s Day, and I could spend a day set apart, worshipping Him, being with His people, speaking to others about Him, praying to Him, giving to Him, serving Him. Instead, I woke up wondering vaguely whether how many times I could afford to press the snooze button on the alarm clock.
Acts 2:42 does not only tell us how the church should behave – it tells us how we should respond. So if by the grace of God we are fortunate enough to go to a God-centered church, let’s “be filled with awe”, let’s “continue to meet together” – midweek as well as the Lord’s day. Let’s ensure we have “glad and sincere hearts”. Let’s “praise God”. And let’s do that every Sunday!
#1 by Eric on 14 July, 2008 - 5:32 am
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were do I go to church
#2 by chelle on 14 July, 2008 - 3:33 pm
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i do not go church every sundea cos i m not a christian
#3 by James on 29 January, 2009 - 11:37 am
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Well to answer Eric’s question, you would go to church in your local area. And in response to Chelle, obviously you wouldn’t go to church if you are not christian. It wouldn’t make sense to…
#4 by wigrd on 29 January, 2009 - 2:16 pm
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Thanks James, I think the last comment attributed to me has appeared out of the ether. Perhaps the widget is broken. 14 July at 4:32 doesn’t sound right.It may somehow have come adrift from a former comment. On its own it certainly makes little sense. I do go to my local Parish Church and I’m very happy with it. I just don’t want the evangelical thought police hijacking it! See comments about reforming the C of E. I can’t speak for Chelle but surely chuch is not a bad place for people who struggle with belief is it? I actually know a confirmed atheist who goes to church. Her name is Betty and she is 93! Last month she finished a 3,000 word essay “Epicurus and the Problem of Evil” for credits towards the Cambridge Advanced Diploma. Her first degree was in mathematics. Her great love is music and poetry. Rather you than me tell her she has no business there! Iris Murdoch attended church as does A N Wilson as does Alan Bennett! To paraphrase Hamlet its a strange world isn’t it? All the better for it I say.
#5 by Jeff Paris on 28 July, 2009 - 5:55 am
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Matthew 6:5-6
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:1-34
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …
*John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
*Hmmmmm, says nothing about a church membership card being the key to Heaven.
#6 by Tony on 13 July, 2010 - 9:54 am
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I would like to comment on James’ comment of Chelle dated 29 Jan 2010. I does make sense for a non christian to attend church, how else would one learn to know about christianity if you do not search? It is recorded that Jesus said…”Come unto me, all those who are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest” MAybe her soul is seeking for a place of refuge and needs to find solace in the comforting and encouraging words we receive when we attend church. Read the following and make your decision………..
A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.
‘I’ve gone for 30 years now,’ he wrote, ‘and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons.
But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the priests are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.’
This started a real controversy in the ‘Letters to the Editor’ column. ; Much to the delight of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
‘I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.
But I do know this…
They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!’
When you are DOWN to nothing ………. God is UP to something!
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!
Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!
#7 by oyeleke sunday on 28 August, 2011 - 12:44 pm
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to me,going to church does not make you a xten.