Was talking to a friend about what he did this morning and he didn’t mention church.
So, I asked kindly, “Did you go to church this morning?”
He responded, “Honestly, I am still looking man. So nowhere.”
Now, perhaps I responded poorly. But, here is my response and my thoughts on why I find it so crucial to go to church.
First, I stated that if you are looking for a church, GO TO A CHURCH.
See what is right for your theological distinctions and personal preference. Those are not inherently bad things. But, most importantly just get into the church.
Second, here is the poor, possibly unwise thing I said. I quoted St, Cyrprian, a third-century church father who says,
“You cannot have God as your Father unless you have the church for your Mother.”
I told him that I was not implying he wasn’t saved. BUT, I was challenging him to hold to the standard of historical Christian orthodoxy. The Church is where believers gather for personal edification, sacrificing praise to God, and communion with God through sacraments, community, and the preaching of the Word. We all need this.
Finally, I told him my best and favorite analogy to use when talking about church.
If Jesus was a mile or even two away, you would go walk or drive to see him.
Jesus is present in his Church.
In Revelation, Christ is present among the lampstands which represent the Church.
Therefore, Jesus is actually one or two miles away in the Church!
God is omnipresent, but, God also manifests himself in certain spaces and dwellings.
The Church is one of those dwellings.
Every Sunday, God comes down to the underground church in Iran, the pentecostal church in Seattle, the house church in France, and even the mega church in Dallas.
Jesus is at Church.
That and only that is why I attend Church and take it so seriously.
The Church changed my life. I was saved sure, but I was a spiritual baby.
I did not understand my Bible, the God I served and committed my life too, or have close-knit community.
The Church changed that. It took me from this absolute struggler of a Christian to someone who is desperately aching to love God and obey Him. Do I get it perfect now? No shot. But, the Spirit through the Church has grown me and kept me straight on the path of righteousness.
I would not be who I am today without the Church. Why?
Because, Jesus is there.
Jesus turns water into wine.
He turns chaos into beauty.
He turns strugglers into saints.
That is why I go to church.
You should too.