For all you naysayers of church, to you I say... I am surrounded by hypocrites & imperfect people weather I am sitting in a sanctuary with my fellow believers worshiping the one true Living God or if I am in line at the grocery store or sitting at home with family & friends. I hear people say all the time "I don't need to go to church to worship, I can do that at home." to you I say, why sure you most certainly can. However, there is something wonderfully amazing about coming together corporately with fellow believers that are more like family and friends than strangers and together worshiping. How do I know? I have done both.
I was that woman who tried this church and that church. Eventually exasperated by yet another failed attempt at finding a "home" church. And telling myself that I'll just sit on the couch and watch a local church that was being broadcast on tv. Two things with that, one I slept in and missed it and if I didn't miss it, I for sure didn't get anything out of it.
I was that woman who got into a car with a lady I had just become friends with and she wanted to go to the Christian store to get her girls the latest veggie tale dvd and listen to christian music on the way there. Saying to myself the whole time, this could never be me, I don't even want to be this lame. I'd have settled for oldies but goodies over gospel music!
Now I am not only the women who listens to Christian music but I LOVE it. I live for it and couldn't go without it. I am the one buying tickets to see Casting Crowns and Tobymac! Ha!
I am the woman who goes to church every chance she gets, not because I feel I have to but because I want to. Not for anyone, but for myself. Because HE is worthy! I don't go for the people, although they are quite a nice bonus.
One thing the bible repeats over and over is to love one another. Love Him and love them. So yes, yes I love coming together with them.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
He didn't mean for us to be alone. He didn't mean for us to bear the burdens, trails, and hardships alone. He gave us one another to help encourage and to share the good and the bad.
Finally, 1 Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers and sister? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
Now I don't know about you, but that verse speaks to me and it says, I have something to contribute and so do you. Think of what so many are missing out on because you are keeping yourself all for you. You to have something to offer.
