I realize that not all of you are church-goers, but I really want all of your opinions on this one.Yesterday, I was in an excellent Sunday School class (taught by Elder Gregory Murray) and part of the discussion was about getting into the presence of God.
We often mistake church for God. They are not the same thing. God is an omnipresent, eternal spirit, and we congregate at churches which are human institutions here on earth. Long story short--I don't need to be in church to experience the presence of God.
Well, if I don't need to be in church to experience God, then why should we gather at church?
Here's why I ask this question...When purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. In other words, if we don't know why we gather, we are probably failing to achieve our purpose when we do gather.
If we don't need to come to church to have an encounter with God, then what should we accomplish when we gather together at church?
3 comments:
gather to feel God or experience God. Gather to learn something. Gather expecting something to happen, or receive something from God. Some come because thats what they are supposed to do, where they are supposed to be on Sun at 11 am. If we could only read minds on Sunday morning.
Spectators.....
...and lets recognize that it is very selfish to talk about what you can get from Church or to talk about YOU experiencing the presence of God....We should also go to be a blessing to people and be able to bring Gods presence with us when we enter the sanctuary so that people who come to the church for healing, restoration, or salvation can have an authentic and powerful experience with God. You can buy movies on the street from street pedlers, but you have a guarantee on the movies that you buy when you go to blockbuster....You can get produce from your neighbors yard...but its probably better to go to Ralphs, Vons, or Stater Brothers to receive guaranteed fresh produce....So our purpose is two fold when we go to church...to receive and to give..and it is the place where both sinner and saint have perceive a guarantee of the produce that will be in the house....stores that do a bad job of providing good service ultimately shut down and make their communities sick in the process....but healthy churches are a blessing to people and become the conduit by which God meets his people, thus, people are used to be a blessing to others....which of course will carry into the world and bless the nations. And when its all said and done...lets not forget that it is commanded for us to gather..Heb 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.....just some thoughts...
Darlin said...
I come to church mainly to worship God, a day that is set aside to fellowship with Him and His people. It is one of his commands. We need that interaction with those that feel the same way about Him as we do, or else we find ourselves bombarded with things that can and will spoil our spirits.
When my soul id thirsty, it refreshing to come together with the saints to praise God and give attention to the one that has done so much for you!
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