Church devotion: Church Blessings - Proverbs 5:23

Proverbs 5:23             For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.

            Yet another singer/celebrity has just been quoted as saying “You don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.” Really? Where did that idea come from? It seems to me that the house churches, Mediterranean worship centers, local synagogues, and even the Jerusalem Temple, were all used by New Testament Christians to congregate in and worship God. They all supported, served, and loved one another, so that church going became a joyful and important event in their weekly lives.

            To me, saying that “You don’t need to go to church to be a Christian,” is like saying you don’t need oxygen to breathe, or you don’t need food to grow, or you don’t need water to live. Church going is at the heart of our faith. On Sunday mornings, when I see folks at church, I observe a lot of people who are struggling with issues concerning their families, their finances, and their futures. They come to church, not because they are holy, righteous, or perfect, but because they need to hear that God is still in control, and that people of God care for them. It also gives every one of them the opportunity to offer support and help to the rest of the body of believers.

            When celebrities publicly say “You don’t need to go to church to be a Christian,” what they are really expressing is that they are not willing to humble and discipline themselves to go to church. They’ll follow their own path, make up their own minds, live life according to their own beliefs rather than allowing the Church to augment their lifestyles, give them guidance, or bless their lives. Unfortunately, they usually end up with no faith at all and the wise, warning words of Proverbs are yet again fulfilled: “For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.”

Questions for personal reflection

What does going to church mean to me? How can I help others to experience church blessings?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You call the Church Your Bride because You are committed to its well-being, life, and mission. You established church long ago and by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, Your Church has grown into billions of followers on Earth, who regularly gather together to worship God and glorify Your Name. Thank You for this wonderful blessing of church, which helps us to become better Christians. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s drawings for World Communion Sunday, which annually takes place all over the world in churches on the first Sunday of October. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: WCS.

Church Meeting Devotions: Room for Hypocrites

Psalm 26:4 I do not sit with deceitful men, nor do I consort with hypocrites;

Over the years, I’ve heard some people say, “I don’t go to church. It’s full of hypocrites.” My usual answer to that is: “Don’t worry. There’s always room for one more.”

There’s also no such thing as a perfect church on Earth because congregations are made up of imperfect people. We go to church because we know that. We seek the Perfect One in our lives. We know that only Christ is sinless and unhypocritical. We understand that we fail each day to live up to the demands our faith. We don’t go to church because we are spiritually holy; we go to church because we find the Holy Spirit there.

I’m amazed sometimes at people who publicly talk about God in their lives, but who never seem to get around to going to church on Sunday. I don’t get it, nor do I understand it. If God is so important to them, then why isn’t church on their timetable? Do they honestly believe that church is an option to their faith?

If they take time to read their Bibles, they would discover that church-going and being a Christian go hand in hand. From the earliest times of our faith, Christians would gather together on the first day of the week (Sunday) to worship, sing hymns, hear the Gospel, and share communion. They did it in defiance of the authorities, and in the knowledge that they could be arrested, persecuted, and even executed for such a simple gathering of faithful people. In the 17^th century, the Scottish Covenanters experienced the same thing, and in today’s China, Sunday Church groups meet together knowing that the police could break up their services at any time.

The church is full of hypocrites, but at least it’s full of people who prioritize their collective worship of God, especially on a Sunday morning. As for those other hypocrites who always talk about God but never get around to actually worshiping Christ on Sundays, we’ll leave the door open. After all, there’s room at worship for them, too.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, each week on the Sabbath Day, You were to be found in a local synagogue. Even though You are the closest being to God, You never treated worship lightly. Even Your first followers, who began worshiping on Sundays to recognize Your Resurrection, never stopped going to church, even though they were hunted down and persecuted, tortured and executed for defying the authorities. Help us hypocrites to find room at church on Sunday mornings. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.