Why do you go to church?
Why don't you go to church?
Both of these questions have a variety of potential answers because there are many different definitions of "church" and many different views regarding the its purpose. Some people view church as an evangelical meeting, while others view it as the assembling of the saints for edification. Some people go to church to be fed, while others go to give of themselves to others. "Church" is a social club, a community, an emotional high, a lecture, or a routine. Some people feel morally compelled to go, while others go because they value it. All of these viewpoints, which are by no means mutually exclusive, contain a part of the truth, even if they are incomplete.
It is beyond my scope today to attempt a definition of the Church, or even to discuss all the valid reasons for attending/being a member of the Church. What I want to do is to remind people of the most fundamental reason that we gather together as the Church--to worship. Amidst all our innovations to bring people into our doors and our attempts at edification and evangelism, we seem to have forgotten that worship is both a duty and a good deed. God commands and deserves our worship. Accordingly, it is good and proper to offer it. Offering worship to God is certainly edifying for the Christian, but that is not its only, or even primary, goal. Worship is a goal in and of itself. Viewed from the human perspective, worship is the end goal of all that God has done.
But what is worship? There are, of course, as many answers to that question as to the previous two I have proffered, and, again, many of them are valid, but the ritual act of worship must never be allowed to go by the wayside. Worship is a ritual act wherein we humbly acknowledge and celebrate the attributes and works of God in a spirit of praise and thanksgiving.
There are many ways to worship, or to put it more Biblically, there are many elements that comprise worship as prescribed by God (and I do think we should worship as God has prescribed). Throughout the Bible we find commands and examples of 1) the proclamation and exposition of the Word; 2) singing; 3) praying, which is composed of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (Sunday School mnemonic devices for the win!); 4) observation of the sacraments; and even 5) dancing as parts of worship. In the New Testament we do read of some charismatic gifts being utilized in the assembly, but we'll leave that conversation for another day. It suffices to say that there are several acts that, when performed with hearts of humility and adoration, are glorifying to God and have been enjoined upon us.
Now, all of these elements can (and should) be done privately and sporadically throughout the day and week. For example, I have recently begun listening to sermons on my way to work. I can sing songs of praise to God as I go about my day. I can pray, both in the prayer closet at home and spontaneously as I go about my business. These are all good things to do, but they do not replace the intentional, corporate worship of God. These personal, casual, and spontaneous forms of worship cannot and should not replace the regular worship of the Church.
The few particulars given by God leave the Church with a large amount of freedom in exactly how and when we come together for worship, but the key idea is that we need to set time aside for worship. One of the unfortunate side-effects of our fast-paced, technology-driven society is that we have lost the ability to stop and focus on anything, particularly those things that are outside of and above ourselves. When we worship, we are called to stop and focus on the Transcendent. The beauty of the Gospel, however, is that the Transcendent is also within us. When we gather on Sunday mornings (or whenever we gather), we are coming together to render the praise due to the immanent, transcendent God who has revealed Himself through the Bible. This is not just a good idea; it is a duty! Even if we feel like we don't "get anything out of church," we are still called to come and to give God the glory He deserves. The wonderful promise we have from God is that when we come to fulfill this duty, we will glean blessing, too.
Why don't you go to church?
Both of these questions have a variety of potential answers because there are many different definitions of "church" and many different views regarding the its purpose. Some people view church as an evangelical meeting, while others view it as the assembling of the saints for edification. Some people go to church to be fed, while others go to give of themselves to others. "Church" is a social club, a community, an emotional high, a lecture, or a routine. Some people feel morally compelled to go, while others go because they value it. All of these viewpoints, which are by no means mutually exclusive, contain a part of the truth, even if they are incomplete.
It is beyond my scope today to attempt a definition of the Church, or even to discuss all the valid reasons for attending/being a member of the Church. What I want to do is to remind people of the most fundamental reason that we gather together as the Church--to worship. Amidst all our innovations to bring people into our doors and our attempts at edification and evangelism, we seem to have forgotten that worship is both a duty and a good deed. God commands and deserves our worship. Accordingly, it is good and proper to offer it. Offering worship to God is certainly edifying for the Christian, but that is not its only, or even primary, goal. Worship is a goal in and of itself. Viewed from the human perspective, worship is the end goal of all that God has done.
But what is worship? There are, of course, as many answers to that question as to the previous two I have proffered, and, again, many of them are valid, but the ritual act of worship must never be allowed to go by the wayside. Worship is a ritual act wherein we humbly acknowledge and celebrate the attributes and works of God in a spirit of praise and thanksgiving.
There are many ways to worship, or to put it more Biblically, there are many elements that comprise worship as prescribed by God (and I do think we should worship as God has prescribed). Throughout the Bible we find commands and examples of 1) the proclamation and exposition of the Word; 2) singing; 3) praying, which is composed of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (Sunday School mnemonic devices for the win!); 4) observation of the sacraments; and even 5) dancing as parts of worship. In the New Testament we do read of some charismatic gifts being utilized in the assembly, but we'll leave that conversation for another day. It suffices to say that there are several acts that, when performed with hearts of humility and adoration, are glorifying to God and have been enjoined upon us.
Now, all of these elements can (and should) be done privately and sporadically throughout the day and week. For example, I have recently begun listening to sermons on my way to work. I can sing songs of praise to God as I go about my day. I can pray, both in the prayer closet at home and spontaneously as I go about my business. These are all good things to do, but they do not replace the intentional, corporate worship of God. These personal, casual, and spontaneous forms of worship cannot and should not replace the regular worship of the Church.
The few particulars given by God leave the Church with a large amount of freedom in exactly how and when we come together for worship, but the key idea is that we need to set time aside for worship. One of the unfortunate side-effects of our fast-paced, technology-driven society is that we have lost the ability to stop and focus on anything, particularly those things that are outside of and above ourselves. When we worship, we are called to stop and focus on the Transcendent. The beauty of the Gospel, however, is that the Transcendent is also within us. When we gather on Sunday mornings (or whenever we gather), we are coming together to render the praise due to the immanent, transcendent God who has revealed Himself through the Bible. This is not just a good idea; it is a duty! Even if we feel like we don't "get anything out of church," we are still called to come and to give God the glory He deserves. The wonderful promise we have from God is that when we come to fulfill this duty, we will glean blessing, too.
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