Dear Pam,
Why do we have to go to church? Can't we read the Bible, pray, and meditate without having to step foot into a religious sanctuary?
- Martie
Dear Martie,
For me, there is no substitute for attending church, but I learned this the hard way.
Some 26 years ago, the words of a pastor ripped at my heart, he meant no harm and had no idea he'd stepped on a personal opinion of
mine, thus hurting my feelings. To pay him back, I didn't go to church the next week. Then I missed another Sunday, and before long; I'd
stopped attending church.
My husband dressed each Sunday and drove away without me. He'd later tell me, that he knew God would deal with me regarding the incident,
and so he'd left me alone to sort through it. His was confident God would speak to my heart.
I know your question isn't based on my situation, but when I stayed away from God's house, I discovered what I loved; the people, the
fellowship and the hearing of God's word. By attending church, it’s also a visible, tangible public expression of my faith.
In Romans 10:17, it says "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ."
I can stay home and crack open God's word, and study His message. I can certainly pray. But there's more I can do for Christ. At church,
I'll hear messages from teachers and pastors who are anointed to teach me God's word. Their sole purpose is to bring me the Good News
and to provide nourishment for my soul.
Staying home may not allow or expand my spiritual growth, and I'll miss opportunities to witness God at work within the fellowship. When
two or more gather specifically in the name of Jesus, He’s in the midst with power, awareness and anointing. Psalm 22:3 says that
God
inhabits the praises of His people.
I began to miss the fellowship and those praises in my absence. I longed for the vertical connection with Christ, and the horizontal
connection with those who believed in God.
The Bible says that we are not to forsake assembling together, and we should stir up love and good works. When we’re together we motivate,
encourage and build each other up. Church attendance brings a certain amount of accountability into our lives, as we unite with those
who support us.
To sum up how I returned to church, and how God brought me back; it didn't come without my swallowing some humble pie. And was it ever a
big pie!
A new employee chatted in the break room one day, and I was in ear shot. She said, "I've found a new church for my family. I really love
the pastor’s teaching and the worship service is great. The song service touches my heart."
I enquired what church she'd attended, only to discover that it was "MY" church; the very one I'd turned my back on a few weeks prior.
To make matters worse, she asked me where I went to church!
Talk about choking on the preverbal humble pie. I stumbled around for words to announce to a room full of co-workers, that my husband
was the very worship leader she'd met last Sunday!
The next week, I crawled back to church and knelt at the altar pleading with God to wipe my slate clean, to forgive me and I dedicated
myself to His house.
Since then, God has used my new commitment and allowed me the chance to teach Kids Super Church, a place I've spent the past 20 years in
service to Him.
So to answer your question, we can stay home. We can pray. We can read the Bible and still love God.
However, God cared enough to send a perfect stranger to remind me what I loved about my church family, and why I attended church—it was
also a reminder of just how much He loves me. Of how much He loves you.
Coming together at church gives us the opportunity for corporate worship, to praise God, to encourage and edify each other. We increase
in knowledge and become better equipped to spread the Good News outside those church walls during the week.
Our lives are gifts, the package someone else may need, we have something to say, and that is—God is love. I’d never had the opportunity
to share such a message with all those children by staying away from God’s house.
About The Author:
Pam Kumpe writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column for the
Bowie County Life/Texarkana Gazette in East Texas. She
hosts a podcast "Daybreak Devotionals," a series on the women of the Bible. For more about Pam go to
PamKumpe.com or visit her blog, www.pamkumpe.blogspot.com.
* Information provided in this column is for entertainment purposes only.
The information in this column is not meant to be taken as legal, medical, or professional advice. Read legal
disclaimer.
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