Hello, my name is Rick and I am a recovering legalist. That's right, from a very strict "holiness" upbringing to being awed by shock-jock preachers with a rock-star mentality early in my ministry, I used to be quite the rigid militant fundamentalist. I am glad to say that by God's grace (how ironic), I have come a long way. I only say that to set up my perspective on a specific issue...church attendance. There is certainly a wide range of opinions regarding church attendance, from "I can worship the Lord in my home just as good as in church" to the proverbial "drug" problem. You know, that's the problem characterized by being drug to church every time the doors were open.
I am not here to discuss the nuances of what "the church" is. My folks hear me regularly say, "The church is a body, not a building. It is people, not a place." Nevertheless, the scripture is full of references to assembly and corporate worship. I am not saying that there is only one place, a sanctuary, to worship, nor am I saying that there is only one time, 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sunday and 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, to worship. What I am saying, rather asking, is why do people not attend church as they once did?
I will be hitting this topic for a little while because there is no way to hold you here indefinitely to read the longest blog ever, but I want to encourage you and others to get back into church. Not as a required religious exercise. Not because I believe God takes attendance every service looking for the naughty and the nice. Not because I think your salvation depends upon "Perfect Attendance". No, but there are lots of legitimate, good reasons to get yourself together and get yourself down to church as often as you are able.
Here is the first reason. In the life of the believer, it would seem, that the opportunity to meet publicly and corporately with others of God's people is a source of happiness, or more specifically...
Psa 122:1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
Glad = śâmach
Pronounced saw-makh'
A primitive root; probably to brighten up, that is, (figuratively) be (causatively make) blithe or gleesome: - cheer up, be (make) glad, (have make) joy (-ful), be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, X very.
Do you see that? Going to church made David joyful and merry, and what's more, it was multiplied times "VERY". I wonder if today's Christians are the least joyful in history (personal generic commentary) because they don't frequent the assembly of the only people on this earth that have the MOST important things in common with them, people who are theoretically on their side. Church is an oasis of grace in a world of grief. Come on in and take a load off. I know I am the Pastor, but it shouldn't just be my perspective. I'm glad to be back with you.
