Hebrews 10:24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another
to acts of love and good works.(NLT) or let us consider how to stir up one another to
love and good works (ESV) or consider
how to provoke one another to love and good deeds (NRSV).
Why do we meet
together as a church? What is the point of our Sunday services? Of course we
come together to worship God but we should be worshipping Him all day, every
day. It’s great to sing with others, to hear an inspiring message, to be part
of a loving community, to pray with and for others. There is a dynamic when we
meet with others for a holy and communal reason which isn’t there when we are
on our own. The purpose of meeting as a church should be to motivate, inspire,
encourage and energise us to reach out together in mission. Our gatherings
should equip us to live lives of love and good deeds when we are scattered. I
must confess in the last few years I have rarely felt motivated, equipped or
encouraged in fact I have often felt frustrated, angry and upset. Sometimes
this is probably due to my own personal failings. Sometimes I believe my anger
is from God who is unimpressed with some gatherings which are little more than conscience
easing, comfort seeking, people pleasing performances for those who frankly don’t
care about those outside their community. Meeting together should be about a
real and dynamic interaction with the Living God. If we meet together, and
through each other truly meet with the Holy One, our lives cannot remain the
same.
Father help me to be and do what I can to allow your people to meet with you.
I have been to a few churches and have found that what we win on the roundabouts we lose on the swings . Anything we do has the potential to frustrate and dissapoint but "a coal that falls from the fire loses its heat". I guess though that fire is available now through many sources. But you tube and e-services don't replace community, and for me, thats the challenge.
ReplyDeleteYes, all churches are imperfect and we do need to find and commit ourselves to a local community of believers or form one, however I don't think we should lose sight of what churches should be about or settle for a church which is happy when it meets the needs of its members but fails to reach out effectively to those outside. Giles
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