Church Goin'

TITLE: Church Goin’
DATE: February 9, 2019
TEXT: Acts 2:42 (ESV) - 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
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The oldest lady I have ever buried was 104-years-old. She could remember covered wagons stopping at her parent’s farm in Nebraska to water their oxen… and she remembered men landing on the moon. Now that was a lady who had seen some changes in her life.

I guess all of us have seen changes. I can remember when getting your driver’s license was an important part of growing up. Now, I suspect, getting your first cell-phone is just as significant.

I can remember when our school got its first computer… an Apple which had 64K of memory. As Principal Keith Lund and I played Oregon Trail with its stick figures moving across the screen, he observed, “Who could ask for anything more?”
I can even remember when public school kids in America prayed and Russian kids were unbelievers. Now the Christian religion is offered in all Russian schools and in the U.S. of A. it is banned.

Still, of all the changes I’ve seen, one of the biggest is the number of Christians who “believe for themselves” and maintain it is unnecessary to join a church or a Christian congregation. There are a number of arguments they use to support their position:

• There are a lot of hypocrites in church and belonging hasn’t helped them.

REPLY: The church isn’t a museum where saints who have achieved perfection are put on display rather, it is a hospital where the Lord provides healing and help body, mind and soul.

• Because of Jesus, we are free and no longer bound by the law.

REPLY: That’s true. But no law commanding worship should be necessary. No law is necessary to get a young man in love to spend time with his sweetheart. Indeed, if he doesn’t desire to spend time with her, I would question the depth, quality and existence of his love. So, too for someone who says He loves Jesus, but doesn’t wish to spend time with the Savior or His family.

• I know what I believe, and don’t need to argue or fight with others who believe differently.

REPLY: I’m glad you know what you believe. But tell me, does what you believe harmonize with what the Lord teaches or asks of His people… you know, things like worshipping together, taking Communion, taking the Gospel to unbelievers and supporting those around you who are in need.

• I can worship God better in a woods, or fishing, or on a golf course, than I can in church.

REPLY: Private worship, devotion and meditation is a wonderful thing and I’m glad the Lord is with you when the big one gets away at your favorite lake, or when you miss that 9-inch putt on the golf course. But worship is not just what you get from a sermon, from singing a hymn or saying a prayer. Worship is you giving to others.  It is your heart joining with others in confession of sins or faith; it is your presence which shows you are voting for Jesus; it is your contribution which added to that of others helps keeps the message moving into the world.

AND FINALLY: We worship together because the Lord has asked us to:  “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”  (Heb 10: 24-25 – ESV)

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, by the Holy Spirit’s power I have become a member of the family of faith.  Now may I live as a responsible member of that family, doing all I can to thank my Savior and help my brothers and sisters. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today’s devotion was inspired by various articles, amongst which is the one written by by: G. Shane Morris on January 7, 2019 for Breakpoint. Those who wish may check out this link which was, at the time of writing, fully active: http://www.breakpoint.org/2019/01/church-membership-isnt-optional/

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann, one of my long-ago confirmands. He is singing with three brothers. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html