The Green Pastures

I have been wanting to write on this for a while. I have been blessed through the church more than I could count. My fear is that far too many people take it for granted, or do not see the true value of it. I would like to show the need for church, what Christ intended for the church, and how the church builds up. 

Committing to the Church

“and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

There are few things that I feel more strongly than this: that every Christian should love to go to church more than anything else. I understand when people are not able, due to a number of reasons, but when you do not have the habit of attending church, I believe it can be a slippery slope. I realize church can be hard to go to sometimes. It can be hard to wake up early instead of sleeping in and taking a day off. However, there is nothing that will reenergize you more than going to church, being with the church family, and being under the preaching of God’s Word. It will not only reenergize you, but recenter you. The week can be a lot, but the church can focus you on what is important and how you can face the week ahead. I can’t imagine why, when knowing what the church can do, people choose to skip because school, work, or they are simply just “too tired”. I have heard that going to church is a Saturday decision. There should not be excuses to skip out on church. God has brought His people together. Make every effort to join in that gift. Do not try and find every excuse to get out of it.

Connecting With the Church

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household,” Ephesians 2:19

“Do not sharply reprimand an older man, but appeal to him as [you would to] a father, to younger men as brothers, to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters, in all purity [being careful to maintain appropriate relationships].” 1 Timothy 5:1-2

I was once talking with a Muslim about my church. The thing he was intrigued most by was the communal aspect. The Christian church is something like no other. The chance to come together with people of similar beliefs is an incredible gift that God lets us in on. God sending His Son was not only for salvation of sin, but also granting us relationship with Him in a way not experienced before. Prior to the work done on the cross, the people of God would need a priest to go before God once a year. We see this through God’s imagery of the torn veil. God has opened the way for a deeper relationship with Him. Church is where we share in that intimate relationship with Christ. We are brought into the family of Christ. With being a part of the family of Christ, we are to act like a family. We are to see the church family as brothers and sisters. We are called to love each other because God has joined together His family. Just like an actual family, it may be hard sometimes, for whatever reason, but we are still family. It is the same for the church. There are, sadly, many churches that do not act like a family. If we see that taking place, we must step in and help those that feel like they are on the outside and bring them into the family of Christ. It is important to not fall into a passive church attendance. We are not to fade in the background, just soaking up all the benefits of the church. We are to be an active member, looking for needs and offering a helping hand. At the start of the early church, everyone was helping everyone. That attitude led to the explosion of the gospel in that time. When the church is working as God intended, people will notice and the church will grow.

Comforting in the Church

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].” Galatians 6:1-2

One of the benefits of being in the church and a part of the church family is having people around you for when you need them. I said earlier that you should not just take from the church, but contribute. Well, sometimes you may find yourself at a point in life when you need to take in the church. When you are in a season like that, stay plugged into serving the church. I remember so many times when I felt I was sinking and falling behind in life, only for people around me to wake me up and pull me back into reality – back into the Savior’s arms. I do not know where I would be without my church family, but I know it would be a whole lot worse. I had those people around me when I needed them, only because I reached out to them well before.  For the most part, those same people that have helped me, I have helped as well. We are all on the same Christian walk. However, some are at different places in their walk. When a brother or sister in Christ stumbles, we should be there to help them get on the right foot again. Likewise, when we stumble, we are to know that we have faithful brothers and sisters in Christ there to help us in the same way. This is a reason to not be a passive Christian. If I had chosen to just listen to the sermons, fade into the background, and not connect with anyone, I would not have those faithful brothers and sisters in Christ and I would not be where I am today.