I seriously consider arguing to the point of losing friends/damaging relationships every time some says something to the effect of "It doesn't matter if I go to church or not, as long as I have a relationship with God."
There's so much wrong with that, I can't even.
First off, there's the idea of what the church IS.
IT IS:
There's so much wrong with that, I can't even.
First off, there's the idea of what the church IS.
IT IS:
- The Body of Christ
- The Bride of Christ
- The "Called out" of God
- a Body of Believers
Then we have the idea of what the church is TO DO:
- Proclaim the death and ressurection of Jesus through Communion
- Encourage one another to do good works
- Stand firm against the world.
Why on earth would you not want to be a part of this?!?
Maybe it's because of what else the church IS:
Maybe it's because of what else the church IS:
- A group of Sinners with problems
- An exclusive group
- People who don't live up to their expectations
And sometimes we DO these things:
- Keep people out
- "Forgive" without accountability
- Insist on keeping rules
First, let's realize something about The End1:
I've heard some people compare the search for God/Purpose/Meaning to life to a journey, and on this journey it is said: "There's more than one path up Mt Fuji."
or "All Dogs Go to Heaven"
some variation on the idea that All-Loving-Powerful-Knowledgeful, etc God will accept Your Best as Good Enough to get by, and this is how we can all make it to heaven.
Simply put that's not something I can believe, given the truth of scripture, and what it's got to say. Scripture says God is one, and He is Holy. This means that I'm not going to the top of Mt Fuji. Mt Fuji is on earth, it's end is the same as the rest of the planet. I'm going somewhere fundamentally different than this earth. This earth is not The End. It will be remade into something it's not right now, but that Coming Thing is so vastly different than what's here right now, I can only barely glimpse at it. I know there's no crying or death there, but I don't know what that means. I know that I will see God, and that the Tree of Life is there, but I don't know what that means.
You say you don't go to church because your way is good enough, that there's more than one way up mt Fuji.
I'm not going there, and I don't want to. Mt Fuji is here, I want to go Over There.
To get over there I need help, and so do you.
That's why the Church is here.
As a body of believers, we're ready to do what God's called us to do, and it doesn't matter what happens to us. God makes it a point to make sure that what is happening to us now works together for our Good.
We're blessed with the fellowship of other believers. Not everyone in the congregation where we worship is at the same level of spiritual maturity. Some people in church need milk, others can handle meatier doctrine. We all still have need for the blood of Christ to continually cleanse us. We remind each other where we're going and who we are.
That is what Church is FOR. We're on a journey, not to a place that is here, on this plane of existence, but rather we are going to the Throne room of the King, where our voices will join in the chorus: "HOLY HOLY HOLY is the Lord God Almighty!" Here we see in part, and know in part. Then we will be complete. You don't get there without being in the Church!
Joining the Church is the same as being saved from your sins. You can't have them washed away without God adding you to the Church.
It's a deluxe package deal.
Please stop climbing Mt Fuji, and start reaching out to God. You don't have to go far.
Repent of your sins, and confess that "Jesus is Lord". Join the church through the Grace2 of God by your Faith3 during your baptism4. Please, if something is hard to understand, reach out to me here on the blog, or send me a message in email. We can help.
The important thing is to take the right step next.
I've heard some people compare the search for God/Purpose/Meaning to life to a journey, and on this journey it is said: "There's more than one path up Mt Fuji."
or "All Dogs Go to Heaven"
some variation on the idea that All-Loving-Powerful-Knowledgeful, etc God will accept Your Best as Good Enough to get by, and this is how we can all make it to heaven.
Simply put that's not something I can believe, given the truth of scripture, and what it's got to say. Scripture says God is one, and He is Holy. This means that I'm not going to the top of Mt Fuji. Mt Fuji is on earth, it's end is the same as the rest of the planet. I'm going somewhere fundamentally different than this earth. This earth is not The End. It will be remade into something it's not right now, but that Coming Thing is so vastly different than what's here right now, I can only barely glimpse at it. I know there's no crying or death there, but I don't know what that means. I know that I will see God, and that the Tree of Life is there, but I don't know what that means.
You say you don't go to church because your way is good enough, that there's more than one way up mt Fuji.
I'm not going there, and I don't want to. Mt Fuji is here, I want to go Over There.
To get over there I need help, and so do you.
That's why the Church is here.
As a body of believers, we're ready to do what God's called us to do, and it doesn't matter what happens to us. God makes it a point to make sure that what is happening to us now works together for our Good.
We're blessed with the fellowship of other believers. Not everyone in the congregation where we worship is at the same level of spiritual maturity. Some people in church need milk, others can handle meatier doctrine. We all still have need for the blood of Christ to continually cleanse us. We remind each other where we're going and who we are.
That is what Church is FOR. We're on a journey, not to a place that is here, on this plane of existence, but rather we are going to the Throne room of the King, where our voices will join in the chorus: "HOLY HOLY HOLY is the Lord God Almighty!" Here we see in part, and know in part. Then we will be complete. You don't get there without being in the Church!
Joining the Church is the same as being saved from your sins. You can't have them washed away without God adding you to the Church.
It's a deluxe package deal.
Please stop climbing Mt Fuji, and start reaching out to God. You don't have to go far.
Repent of your sins, and confess that "Jesus is Lord". Join the church through the Grace2 of God by your Faith3 during your baptism4. Please, if something is hard to understand, reach out to me here on the blog, or send me a message in email. We can help.
The important thing is to take the right step next.
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