“I give thanks to God always for the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 1:4)
The Corinthian church was far from perfect. The Apostle Paul identifies and confronts several problems that threaten the unity and purity of the fellowship. Yet, he is still grateful for them and not ashamed to admit it.
I find there to be a troubling trend around the blogosphere (and within society in general) to identify the problems of the Church (or churches) yet fail to see the possibilities. Without a doubt, the Church has sanctioned some of the greatest atrocities in the history of humankind. Without a doubt, there are hypocrites, gossips, and busybodies in just about any church.
There are many problems with church, but I believe it still holds out the greatest hope for people to come together and encourage each other to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ (and with each other).
Like Paul, I am grateful for the church I serve even though I see so much within it that isn’t right.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote -
“If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship in which we’ve been placed; if, on the contrary, we only keep complaining to God that everything is so paltry and petty, we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure and riches which are there for us all in Jesus Christ.”
Think about this. Our spiritual growth is tied to our attitude about our faith fellowship. If we want to grow in a relationship with Christ and if we want our children to grow in faith, we need to give thanks to God for the good things we can enjoy within the body of Christ.
We go to church because we recieved salvation its not because weare looking for salvatipon thats how i understand your question right?
The Pistol fires back: Yes, I would say we go to grow in a living and loving relationship with Christ. Not to earn salvation, but out of gratitude for Christ’s saving love.
Becausewe are saved
The Pistol fires back: Sounds simple enough. Thanks for writing in.
I confess I have not been going to church frequently. This Sunday I’m still licking my wounded ears after hearing a sermon that was loaded about generalizations about men an women that had more to do with TV and nothing to do with the Bible. Tonight’s evening church schedule was adjusted to make room for the Super Bowl. And it’s “tithe Sunday”, something I never heard of before the new pastor came, and I put my money into yesterday’s ESL mission and am broke. OK that’s the whining, Dietrich.
But I’m not convinced from the blogs I’ve read that there is any better way to fellowship with people of different economic and ethnic backgrounds, or with people of different ages (particularly widows) than at my church. I don’t know why we have such a good diversity at my church. We don’t advertise it as such and it’s no thanks to our male-only good ol’ boy deacons. I credit the last pastor, or maybe it’s one of God’s miracles.
When I first started going to church about 12 years ago, I noticed that my circle of terminally ill friends had grown. That’s because before going to church, my terminally ill friends just faded away and died. In church, my circle of friends increases and those that are ill are mentioned and brought to mind.
The Pistol fires back: Excellent observation about your church. Go back soon. They could use you.
Amen. God for whatever reason has called us not to forsake assembling together…
The Pistol fires back: You said it.
To reiterate what Ellen said, yes, we do go to church because the Bible says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. However, why does the Word tell us that? It is so we can encourage one another with our words and our testimony. We go to church to edify and build up one another. We also go to be of service not only to the Lord, but to each other. Whether it’s service in the choir, children’s ministry, hospitality, media or creative arts, it is a blessing to be of service. You never know how something you say to someone in church may affect that person.
The Pistol fires back: Great points. Thanks for weighing in.
Pistol Pete,
Thanks for pointing out to us, and reminding us all of the other side of the coin.
"I find there to be a troubling trend around the blogosphere (and within society in general) to identify the problems of the Church (or churches) yet fail to see the possibilities."
Grace and peace be with you brother.
The Pistol fires back: Grace and peace back right back at you.
Pete, this is such an awesome post! This message needs to be shouted from the rooftops!!
Could I, please, link back to it from my own blog?
God’s blessings, Janice
The Pistol fires back: Certainly, link away. Glad it spoke to you.
Warning: Bible according to Murphy coming at you:
My personal take is this–I think the reason we go to church is for worship-period. Anything else is bonus. I think God knows that we, as humans, need structure. He also knows that worship is the highest form of praise and praise is the highest form of enjoyment–therefore, to really enjoy God the way He intends us to enjoy Him we must be part of regular worship. Where some faiths miss the boat is that they make coming to church a legalistic requirement–it then loses its enjoyment. We should be going because we long to hear the Word and be in fellowship with others seeking to enjoy God.
When you see a great movie or read a great book you praise it to others so they can enjoy the same movie and book–you talk about it and tell people–”You gotta go see that movie” or “You must read this great book”–That is the kind of praise God seeks–not because He needs it–but because He knows if we are praising and worshiping Him with the same enthusiasm–it is because we are enjoying Him so much. (Psalm 150).
-Murphy
The Pistol fires back: Couldn’t have said it better myself.
[...] Pistol Pete’s 2 cents worth over at Necessary Therapy and you can check out what Rick Renner has to say over at Renner [...]
Congregation in a sanctuary filled with holiness brings us ever closer to our God. Church’s are supernatural places and I think we don’t remember that.
How often have you been in a church service when a prayer asking the “Holy Spirit to be with us today” has been prayed and frankly not a single person expects him to really show up!!
We go to worship. With all our being. That includes teaching, singing, silence, prayer, liturgy, eucharist, children’s stories, social times and tithing. In being there and ministering to each other, we worship.
The Pistol fires back: Certainly, participation in worship is key.
Up until a few years ago I would have been singing your praises here. But since divorce, church has become so painful that I cannot go. I was married 20 years. He screwed up, double time. And the church should have become a sanctuary for my girls and me, yet, it has become a place of pain and passive-rejection. We have enough pain and obstacles to overcome everyday, I cannot add that in, too. If I could find a place to worship where my bp daughter would be loved and where we would not be passively rejected, I would love, crave, to be there. (Oddly enough, my ex is now super-involved in his large, SBC church. He never takes his girls; he drops them off before church so he can go by himself. I know he and his (retired, career missionary) parents are critical we don’t go to church b/c I hear it thru my kids. Sick.)
The Pistol fires back:
I’m so sorry to hear of your experience. My parents divorced when I was 10 and we were shunned from the church. But, by God’s grace, I found my way into another church that shared with me Christ’s embracing love. I’ve also been very blessed by church’s who have accepted me as pastor even with my Bipolar Disorder.
I wish I could give you more guidance, but I just pray you’ll keep looking for the right church where you will be accepted and encouraged to grow in faith and love. If you are comfortable doing so, you can send your general location to my e-mail address (unquietmind@juno.com) and I may know of some churches in your area.
Is there not but one Church that being the one our Lord and Savior established?
Wow … you validate me and make me feel *normal*. Thank you. The whole experience with the church has been so incredibly painful. I’ll send you an email.
The Pistol fires back: Glad to be of service.
I go to church on sabbath saturday
The Pistol fires back: Excellent. I pray you find it spiritually refreshing.
But to be encouraged and lifted up in what?
Don’t let it be encouraging if it’s not God’s word, don’t let it be a feel good, we are given specific instructions how to live our lives for Jesus, and we mustn’t let those who don’t understand encourage us in misunderstanding.
America is certainly not part of those instructions.
What I am about to write is for ALL readers, but I especially have in mind the remarks of Cathy on 2/3/2008! I did NOT realize her post was so far back until I began undertaking this reply. I did NOT even discover this website until TODAY- 7/7/2009! Cathy, I DO hope you are still a part of this blog group!! However, I desire that ANYONE and EVERYONE read what I write!!
I entreat, encourage and ask each and everyone of you to visit an assembly of a congregation of the churh of Christ! You will not find the absence of the Bible as Cathy mentioned! You will find a group of God’s children who study the Bible closely- with but FEW exceptions I see the Bible as God’s Divinely inspired “instruction manual” to mankind for the salvation of the soul! It is the expression of God’s final authority and will to man through Jesus Christ!! The 2 divisions of the Bible, of course, are the Old and New Testament. Man is under the New Testament now, since Jesus died to put it in effect. Ephesians 2:11-16 I believe the Bible itself is its own best commentary. If you find a passage from Paul somewhat difficult, read what Peter and others wrote on the subject.
Entertainment is NOT the purpose of a sermon-or SHOULD not be! Paul wrote to Timothy, “Preach the word…” 2 Tim 4:1 The preacher is NOT in the pulpit to talk of current events, or what is going on regarding television! John wrote ” If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed.” In this case, John had reference to the human (fleshly) nature of Jesus Christ. Doctrine DOES MATTER!
You will NOT find the practice tithing, required or otherwise, in congregations of the Church of Christ! Read 2 Cor. 8:1-5, 9:6-9, 1 Cor. 16:1-2 You WILL find: 1. A people who assemble faithfully to worship God and encourage each other. 2. A people who diligently strive to follow the Bible closely. 3. A people who offer fervent prayers to God. Acts 2: 1 Cor. 14:15, Jas. 5:16 4. A people who sing praises to God- those same songs encouraging one another. Ephenias 5:19, Colossians 3:16 5. A people who observe the Lord’s Supper (Communion) each and VERY Lord’s Day-Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 11:23-33 and 6. A people who give to God from loving hearts, each individual deciding for self he proper amount to give. (Scriptures sited above)
I look forward to hearing from all of you!
Owen G. Solomon
osolomon@bbtel.com