Why do we go to Church?

Today, I was asked if I could help someone with a small dilemma. Their kids were away for the weekend, visiting Grandma, and would be attending church elsewhere. It was just this woman and her husband, something that doesn't seem to happen often. Should they go to church or not? 

It may seem to some like an odd question. Why wouldn't they go to church? To others it may seem an obvious, "If you have to ask, then you probably shouldn't." For others, well, you can relate. Through out my life, I could've given any of these responses. Today, however, my heart immediately turned to God and asked, "How should I respond?"

Whether it was Him who answered, or something else, a response came instantly.

"Are you going to church because you want to or because of what others will think if you don't?"


I followed this with a suggestion. "I believe you should spend time growing, together, in the Lord, today. Whether you do it at church, at home, at a picnic, or somewhere else. Let his be a day of growing, together.

My first point:

We have this mentality of all or nothing. We're either all in  and fully dedicated, serving in every way possible, (which isn't really a bad thing) or we're not in at all. The truth is, there is a happy medium. After all, going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than not going keeps you from being one. Though, I do believe, (and this is biblical), that it is good to gather together with other believers for the purpose of growth and worship.

Maybe that is in a Sunday service, or even a Wednesday, or possibly a Tuesday or Thursday... Get it? The day doesn't matter. Jesus had church any day and anywhere. So why do we go? Do we go to church because we are led to, by the Holy Spirit, or because we are afraid of being condemned by those who are all in, for not being?

I go to my church, not because I have to or because I'm afraid. I go because I believe that God moves in the heart of my preacher man. That the Holy Spirit inhabits our time of praise and worship, together. I go because I like the people and being able to be a blessing to others. I know I don't have to go and truth is, I don't always. Though, rarely because I don't want to. Usually when I don't want to, that is when my spirit needs it most.

But church isn't just in the building I go to on Sunday mornings. It is in my van, with my daughters, in the mornings as we wait for the bus. It is in my kitchen, with my sons, as we learn and grow together. It is during my mom's night out, with my friends. It is every time I gather together with another believer and share my faith, listen to them share theirs, and as we sharpen each other as iron sharpens iron.

I don't go to church, simply to have the word given to me. I take of it on my own, every day. I try to apply it to my life and try to learn and grow. I go to church, because I want to grow alongside others. To be there for them and allow them to be there for me.

My second point:

I can't emphasize how important it is for a couple to spend time growing and learning together. Whether it is in the Lord, in their other interests and hobbies, or as people, couples should be joining together to thrive, instead of just surviving.

The couples I, personally, know, who seem to enjoy their lives the most are those who do just that. They share growth, learning, ups and downs, forgiveness and grace, joys and sorrows, interests and hobbies, and so much more. They have made what is important to the other important to them, even if simply because it is important to the other person. They lift each other up and encourage each other, striving to find the good and accept the bad, (even if they don't always want to.)

Take time, today, with your partner to grow, learn, and love each other more. Church can be had, even if it is just the two of you. After all, a marriage is suppose to be an earthly visual of our relationship with God. We need to take care of it, every way we can and what is better than bringing God into the center of that effort?