posted
The Jan 2002 “Yavoh” newsletter had a provocative article by Monte Judah on the reasons why Christians go to Church.
At first, he noted the alleged obvious reasons as being to worship “Jesus Christ” and/or to receive spiritual instruction in righteousness. But then he added -- “We all know that they don’t go for those reasons.” Thereafter, he listed his ten reasons why people go to church--viz:
(1). Habit (they simply don’t want to change anything).
(2). Friendship, Companionship, or Networking (looking for their next spouse or customer).
(3). Program involvement (member of the choir or of a particular class).
(4). The Children’s Program (just like school).
(5). The Dynamic Preacher (handsome and dignified) (yours truly would add: and with a lot of charisma).
(6). The Youth Program (teen religious activities, along with sports and video games).
(7). The Music Program (Sunday morning choir and special performances).
(8). Counseling (emotional support for pending/past divorce).
(9). Group Activities (the ski trip, youth camping, couples retreat, etc).
(10). Holidays (the Christmas music and the Easter Pageant).
Does he have this thing right? If he is right, it does not speak well for the IC. In any case, his reasons are sufficient for sincere people to consider alternatives.
So how about those in a "housechurch" or home group environment? Are they/we any better? While many of Monte's reasons cannot fit into the "housechurch" or home group context, one must still pause and wonder why would or why do people attend meetings in homes/houses in difference to the institutional churches?
Can readers offer any imput on this subject? Or how about better reasons for home meetings instead of the IC? Can readers suggest better reasons?
posted
RD Bradshaw. I thoroughly enjoy your posts. Thank you for taking the time to write out all the information you do. We have not opened our home just yet but I must admit the biggest desire for me is to encounter the body of Christ in action. I want to see how the hand works in conjunction with the arm and what the foot does and not just be focused on what the mouth says. I know that sounds funny but that's what I am most excited about. There is also a longing to study God's word as well as desperation in me to sense His presence and leading in our gatherings. I am in my 30's and what I understand about my generation is that the idea of God's presence is foreign to us. I trust that God is going to change and teach us once we step out into those waters. I also look forward to God’s provision of older wiser people to be an example as well.
To the list above, one might add traditional marriages and funerals. Folks put a lot of value on such things, do they not?
Many church-goers, sad to say, love the idea that their preacher will usher all of their newly deceased family and friends right into gloryland, regardless of their lives.
But let US not be overcome with evil but overcome it with good - and that by His grace, working in us.
If we were to condense the various reasons people attend church wouldn't it collapse into a single broad category? People are trying to fill a void. We are social beings. We want to belong. We want to be accepted. We want purpose in our life.
But all of these can be found elsewhere outside the church. So what can be the main reason why people choose the church to fill these needs? Is it because the church provides such a variety of services under one roof? Is it because the church is considered a safe-haven? Is it the hope of the gospel?
I believe the most basic need of the individual is freedom from a guilty conscience. The church has a message of hope for the lost and a promise of peace for the troubled--or, at least it should. Could this be the main attraction of the church?
I wonder if we do enough to hold up Jesus Christ to a perishing world. But then, are we really looking for salvation from our sinful life or are we simply seeking to sooth a guilty conscience? We over eat, we consume alcohol, we shop, we party, we buy, we socialize, we buy, we waste time at the theater or watching TV, we deny ourselves little. We indulge ourselves and cultivate our selfish natures. Is it any wonder then that the church has become a place to seek the approval of our fellow "saints" without regard to God's will? Would we feel "uncomfortable" in a body of believers whose morals imposed some restriction on our lifestyle? Whose approbation do we seek?
So boiling it all down what we end up with are people seeking to quiet a guilty conscience through self-santification rather than seeking the sanctified life which involves self-denial and humility through a loving obedience to Jesus Christ. Oh, we want eternal life but we fail to realize what constitutes that life. It is not length of days that defines eternal life but eternal life is that which has its genesis in Jesus.
(A little background for contextual reference.) The sinless life that Jesus manifested while on earth is that same life which is eternal. When Adam and Eve sinned they were banished from the garden and angels stood guard so that no sinner might eat of the Tree of Life and thereby perpetuate sin for all eternity. In their perfect state they were privileged to partake of that eternal life. But what was the result of their transgression? "In the day you eat thereof ye shall surely die." Thus, through disobedience they lost that life eternal which was given them on condition of obedience. It is by overcoming sin through obedience to God's commands that eternal life is granted to all. And, it is by faith in Jesus that we partake of the divine nature which produces the righteousness of God in us.
This salvation comes by God's grace through Jesus Christ as a free gift to all who believe on His name. Therefore, all of our church-i-ness will profit nothing. Our righteousness is filthy rags. Therefore, we must proclaim the name of Jesus as the Savior of the world. We must believe in the promises of Jesus and by faith take hold of them personally if we are going to receive them. If they are not available to us then God is shown to be a liar. But we know that God cannot lie. Therefore, the promises are for us.
It is sad that the church has abandoned simple religion comprised of a pure faith that works by love and substituted just about anything else to occupy the time and therefore the mind giving a cheap substitute for real peace which only comes from living in God's perfect will. And so it is that people will seek out the church which gives them enough religion to ease their consciences but not so much that it affects their lifestyle. This is why I believe that these programs attract people. The majority are truly looking for smooth words for their itching ears.
But there is still a remnant that are faithful to God and are walking in the best light they have. Though weak and sinful by nature they do not allow their minds to dwell on their failures but keep their eyes and thoughts on Jesus the source of their strength. You do not hear them excuse their faults by saying, "This is how God made me." You hear them expressing, not doubt in God's promises but, faith in His word that they are new creations and the old man of sin has died. And so they live righteously now by faith. As it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
posted
Greetings folks! I'll throw in my 1 1/2 cents to the basic question:
"Can readers offer any imput on this subject? Or how about better reasons for home meetings instead of the IC? Can readers suggest better reasons?"
I agree with the idea that most folks "go" to church for the numerous reasons listed. I also think that's how we've been trained. We all tend to repeat what has been modeled before us, whether we understand the "why" or not.
I believe the scriptures focus on FELLOWSHIP. And the heart of fellowship is PARTICIPATION and PARTNERSHIP, and where a smaller group (church) meeting in a home can be more effective than a larger IC setting. When we come together, it's not to just sit, watch, and follow along according to a set program. It's to be involved, share, exhort, encourage one another (daily really) and to exercise the gifts that God has given to us for mutual edifying. Hands, feet, or noses have purpose and serve the whole body. In like manner, we should all be coming together prepared to GIVE and SERVE as much as recieve.
Consider this Example: God puts something on Sally's heart on Tuesday, to share on Sunday. Bob is a gifted teacher and has studied to give an answer to a question from last week. Ed was impressed by the Spirit to exhort everyone to be thankful and leads everyone in some songs and praises. Mike and Sarah are new babes in Christ so they aren't deep in the word, but share a testimony of how God met their needs recently. And Emma, an elder sister, gives a word in tongues then interprets to the edifying of the whole. The small group, yielded to God for His use and purpose, give of themselves for mutual edifying. Iron will sharpen iron, spiritual skills will be developed, mistakes will be made, forgiveness and restoration will occur and everyone will grow like a family.
If we as the church recognize our responsiblity to prepare ourselves for purposeful fellowship, then we will see ourselves not as spectators, but as needed, functional members in the body of Christ.
posted
On Why Attend Church, here's a quote: "On May 14, 2001, National Public Radio (NPR) had Professor Michael Brown of Emory University on to discuss his recent research and a new book he has out on the strange and unique paradox Christian Americans face on the question of Scriptural study, knowledge and understanding.
"Michael Brown is a Professor of New Testament (NT) at Emory. He has undertaken an effort to determine what the typical Christian American knows about the Book. His findings were both sickening and pathetic because most Christian Americans know almost nothing about the Book.
"Many or most of them have some vague idea about the creation account with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and some more have some confused thinking about Noah’s flood. Although not mentioned by Brown, it also seems clear that many Christians have some further unclear ideas about a character named 'Jesus,' who supposedly came and died for their sins.
"However, beyond these two or three basic themes, the typical Christian American knows virtually nothing about the Scriptures. Even on the few topics of which Americans may have heard, most Christian people are grossly ignorant and uninformed. They really don’t know and don’t want to know.
"Now, the Paradox
"Despite this gross state of ignorance and lack of information, the 'Christian Bible' is and has historically been a best seller in the United States. As Brown correctly perceived, The MOST HIGH’s Word is the world’s best selling work. But it is seldom read by the people who buy it. The professor said that Christians buy the Book in order to use it as a talisman or good luck charm of some sort.
"In other words, Christian Americans are anxious to have a 'Bible' in their homes, and they will even spend some money to buy one. The dilemma surfaces because they rarely read the Book they own and possess. They have the Word either for magic purposes (as suggested by Brown); or alternatively, many Christians like to have the Book for pride and show off purposes..." (This quote is from Vol 1, prologue, "Ezekiel and YHWH's Judgment for the Good News People," on the net at www.ageend.com).
Monte Judah's position cited above says that Christians don't attend church to worship or learn about the Scriptures. The just cited remarks from Professor Brown offer convincing proof that the purpose of church attendance is not to learn and receive instruction in righteousness. Obviously, there are other reasons--and these are cited by Judah and responding members of this forum.
In the Hebrew mentality and culture of 2d Temple Judaism, the word "disciple" meant "a learner/student." In today's religious world, there aren't many learners/students around. Instead we find many teachers or would be teachers. Some of these are dangerous for truth and righteousness--like the professional clergy and by all means the huge number of kooks and kookie ideas that attach to religion. Without study, knowledge and understanding of truth, how in the world can one avoid being entrapped by the professional clergy, false teachers or even rediculous kooks and stupid kookie ideas (see I Jo 4:1-4)?
So instruction and learning relate to study which are typically foreign ideas in Christendom as proven by Brown. For sure, people don't attend church to learn. There are other reasons for attendance.
Can we add still one more prime one--pride and vanity. This may dovetail slightly with the above words of jqlogan. If Christians believe that they are now saved, why should they waste time on study and learning which they don't need? This translates to pride and vanity and especially in the real Scriptural world that they are not now saved and are not going to heaven when they die (as they have been falsely taught by the churches).
Yes, there are students of the Word out there (including me) who do not believe that grace comes by standing up in a meeting, running down a church aisle, rolling in the floor, being out in a trance (called slain in the spirit), barking like a dog, crowing like a rooster, saying some nebulous words about "I believe in Jesus" or whatever, being baptized (at birth when a priest pours some water on you or whenever and however), etc.
The Book says to study to be approved (2 Tim 2:15). And that's one of the things which Christians don't do when they go to church or any other time. They don't go to church to be a disciple or learner. They go for other reasons.
YESHUA told His followers that they were to know the truth and the truth would make them free (Jo 8:32--see also Jo 4:23-24). Per the Word, YHWH's Word is truth (Jo 17:17). How can one know the truth if he does not become a learner and study to gain the knowledge and understanding of truth to become free? Since YHWH's Word is truth, it takes some learning about YHWH's Word to gain truth and become free.
Can people obtain salvation and be free by going to a church and being told that they are saved by standing up in a meeting, running to a front altar, speaking some nebulous words, rolling in the floor, muttering some unintelligible sounds, having some water poured or sprinkled on them or even being dunked under water, or doing any of the other works for salvation as prescribed by the clergy? Per John 8:32 and 2 Tim 2:15, the answer is no.
The bottom line is that the churches and professional clergy have failed to teach people what people need to know. Instead, they have taught people to have pride and vanity in believing that they are going to heaven when they perform a few meaningless nothings as prescribed by the clergy for salvation. Church attendance has become a meaningless exercise of futility which produces little or nothing of substance for truth.
This tragedy then devolves to the house/home environment. Will this motion ever progress to the point that attendees can be motivated to study and learn truth to become free or not? Or will it end up more waste of time?
posted
Did anyone mention, "To get a guaranteed ticket to heaven just by showing up?" That's a pretty big one - show up at a certain place at a certain time and you don't have to worry about the here-after any more.
That is one reason why I believe that Church is not any different from any other religion. Muslims, Hindus, Druids all were trying to "buy off God" by finding an intermediary to hide behind, rituals that could be performed occasionally - for a price - then live somewhat as you please.
The story of the people of Israel saying, "Don't make us see God! You, Moses, go for us! We don't want to see holiness, because we don't want to be holy ourselves - we want the benefit without giving up anything!" is an archetype of "religion" and exactly what Jesus came to deliver us from. The book of Hebrews is completely devoted to this - we can see God for ourselves - but most people really don't want to. We have to fight our sinful hearts' desire to "be our own god" daily.
So, if there is something different about the Kingdom of God it should be that every action and every interaction all day long is infused with the love of God. We don't hold meetings - we love one another by being together, encouraging, challenging and living together. Matthew 25 is not about what we do when we aren't "at church" - it's about what the church is doing throughout the day.
posted
So very well put, Laurie Ann! In this you have held up for all to see a very critical key to understanding so very many things, from Genesis to Revelation. We cannot face God or we die, but we must face God or worse follows. We have faced Him, we have died, and we have been resurrected His Body. We are The Church wherever He calls us to be. If He did not put us where we are, it's time to move, time to find out where He "is" for us.
posted
Senator Larry Craig has been in the news because of his visit to a men's toilet in MN. He is expected to resign from the Senate. This brings up the matter of church attendance and perhaps some advice on how Larry can beat this rap. Maybe he should follow the maneuvers of Bill Clinton. Bill was not called Slick for nothing.
When the Monica sodomite case blew up and Slick faced impeachment and removal, he initiated two steps to save his hide. First, he appointed "the reverend" Jesse Jackson and one more leading Christian preaacher to be his spiritual counselors who met with him weekly to rehabilitate and restore him to the good graces of the American people. Everytime Bill had a spiritual session, the news media recorded and publicized the event so the people could understand Bill's spiritual progress.
Next, Bill commenced intense church attendance. He made it a point to be photographed carrying his "Bible" and shaking hands with the preacher after each attendance. In Africa, Slick actually took Catholic mass at a Catholic church. This was interesting because Bill is supposedly a Protestant Baptist who would never take communion in a Catholic church. Too, there is the reality that the Catholics don't give communion to non-Catholics.
But all this religion and church attendance paid off for Bill. In the end, he survived and is still one of America's most popular politicians. Truly, he is slick. Maybe Larry should take a clue from Bill and institute a religious program and one with much church attendance.
This reminds one of Lyndon Johnson. Whenever possible in Texas, Lyndon would go to as many churches as he could each Sunday morning. He would go to one church, stay a few minutes, then leave and go to another, then leave and go to another, and so forth. Someone asked him why he went to all those churches. He replied: "That's where the voters are."
posted
So why attend church? Maybe there are no good reasons. Here's something from the NT which most Christians have never understood.
The OT prophets have many references and words on the future coming Day of YHWH when He intervenes in man's evil and stupidity in this world to completely change things--when YESHUA comes with a sword and rod of iron to rule earth for the Messianic millennium. There are vast numbers of texts which call it the Day of YHWH (Isa 2:12; Jer 46:10; Ezek 13:5; Joel 2:11; 3:14; Amos 5:10 and numerous others). Joel 2:31 calls it the Great and Terrible Day of YHWH. Rev 1:10 in the KJV gives it as the "Lord's Day" (where the issue is not Sunday, contrary to the wishes of Christendom). But throughout the prophets and writers, the day is simply called "that day" or "the day."
There is an amazing text at Heb 10:25 which says that especially as you see the day (of YHWH) approaching, you should "assemble yourselves together" as the KJV has it. But the student of truth who will go the Word to decide things finds that the assemble together comes from the Greek episunagoge which correctly means go(ing) to synagogue. The KJV and most English translators would never tell their readers to go to synagogue as the text actually reads. These bad translations also appear at Acts 13:43; II Thess 2:1; and James 2:2.
Thus, if one pulls his head out of the sand of ignorance and confusion and can plainly see the signs that this present system is about to abort and a new arrangment is coming, should such person go to synagogue? What does this forum say on this and in relation to the house motion?
posted
You are correct, RD, about the word for 'day' meaning a 24 hour period or a period of time.
No Christian, however, should need to be exhorted to meet with others any more than to take another breath. The very indicator of a new birth is love for the brethren. 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
How can one love another and not desire to associate with them at every possible opportunity? How could one love God who cannot be seen if they cannot love those they can see? 1 John 4:20. That love is never conditioned by perfect doctrinal agreement, btw.
The OT saints were a very festive people who often socialized for days at a time and that on REGULAR BASIS. Why would the NT curtail or quell this central element of their history and culture????
In the NT era, whenever Christians, including Jesus and the apostles, met in synagoges, homes, or around the Temple - they were never faulted nor did they fault others for doing so even though there were those (Jews) all around/with them who had completely different (erroneous) beliefs.
Whatever (or whenever) one wants to call it when they are together, I don't really care but I happen to notice that the chief word for their assemblies - 'church' - actually means an assembly of persons in the original. Unless we are going to communicate in the untainted Greek language, all we have is a translation, subject to endless debates and speculations...
There are well over a hundred "one another" passages in the NT alone. Any one of them would certainly justify and often require that Christians associate in some deliberate and repetitive manner.
Furthermore, the idea that an lone, detached, and disjointed Christian can do it on his own or be an island unto himself is an absolute absurdity, unknown to the Jewish history of which you are so fond, unknown to the NT age, and unknown to Him whose dying prayer was that his people be one. I hope this is not your position, RD.
Elijah, based on the outward and deplorable condtions of his times, was positive that he was the only and the last person who had "gotten it right." God showed him otherwise. 1 Kings 19.
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