Does it matter if I go to church?

     I've heard quite a few folks say "I don't have to go to church to be a Christian" and, for the most part, I agree.  Being in church no more makes you a Christian than standing in a garage makes you a car.  Having said that, though, there are some good reasons why a person should be involved in and going to church.  Hebrews 10:24-25 say, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."  This passage is a powerful reminder of why Christians need to meet together.  Let's look at a few of the reasons noted here.

     First, we are to "spur" one another on toward love and good deeds.  The word "spur" in the Greek is a word that means "to sharply provoke or jab."  The idea I think the Hebrew writer is expressing is that Christians need to meet together to challenge and inspire each other to love more and do good.  Meeting together allows us the opportunity to sharpen one another as "iron sharpens iron" (Proverbs 27:17).  Coming to church is a chance to be motivated for service.  I think, many times, we can become complacent in our faith.  We do what we always do and we often to it without thinking.  It is good, sometimes, to be challenged and stimulated to serve the Lord in new and creative ways.  

     Second, we are to meet together to encourage one another.  The implication here is that we need to meet together to get strength to face the challenges of daily living.  Meeting together with other Christians (going to church in the American vernacular) is a way to get "filled up" with the love and courage needed to face the struggles of life.  This works both ways.  If you are down and discouraged, you can come and allow the love of Christ and others to fill you.  If you are doing all right, you can come and be a part of helping one who isn't doing as well. 

     Finally, we need to be meeting together because the "Day" is approaching.  The "Day" here, is one that Bible scholars have debated, but, as I see it, "the Day" here is a reference to the "day of judgment."  We need to be in the habit of meeting together to celebrate Jesus, to praise, worship and thank him for all he's done.  We need to do it to encourage and stimulate each other.The time of Jesus' return is coming.  When he comes, all things will be new and different.  Until then, though, meet together.   

     I hope that this Sunday finds you meeting with some brothers and sisters in Christ.  You need them and they need you.  See you Sunday and thanks for reading....

Do you really know Jesus?

I don't know if you have ever heard of Matthew Staszak. I doubt it, unless you are a model train enthusiast who is "in the know." Staszak, who passed away in February of this year, was a leader in the St. James Model Railroad Club in St. James, New York, a small town near Long Island. I ran across an article that spoke of Staszak's love for model trains this week and was impressed by it. Fellow club members spoke of his passion for model trains. He loved sharing his knowledge and collection with his grandsons and with other members of the club. In the article, club members referred to how much Staszak was "the backbone of the club" and how much he knew about them.

Though I had a train set as a boy, I would not call myself a model train person. I admire, though, someone who is so into something that they really know it and are passionate about it. I have been reading through and studying the book of Philippians for the last several weeks. Philippians 3:10-11 really struck me this week. Paul writes there, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead." The word for "know" in the verse is the Greek word "gnonai" which means to ascertain, especially from personal experience. Paul's desire in this passage is to really, personally know Jesus Christ. Involved in that would be the power of his resurrection and the connection of sharing in his sufferings. There are quite a few things that could be pulled from this passage, but for the moment, I want to focus on Paul's desire to "know Jesus." I wonder sometimes how many Christians really want to "know Jesus." I am confident that several know about Jesus. I am certain that there are people who really want to feel Jesus in their lives. I am sure that quite a few want to be able to call on Jesus when trouble hits. I dont' know, though, how many really desire to know Him. What does it mean to know him?

Looking at what Paul wrote, I think it is clear that to know him means to experience the power of his resurrection. I think this might mean to have the resurrection be real in your life. Have you died to sin and been resurrected a new person? Do you know what it means to become a "new creation?" Are you living for Christ or do you still tend to live for yourself? Paul continued to say to know "the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings." I think this might mean that we need to be so changed from the rest of the world that we might actually suffer for his name.

This is a real challenge, I think. I want to know Jesus, too, but when I write or say that, I ought to be aware of what that means. It is more than just having knowledge of Him. It involves being so "into Him" that my life is changed from the inside out and I am willing to suffer because of my faith.

I hope that all of us will consider our own walk with the Lord and honestly desire to "know Jesus." Thanks for reading and have a blessed day....

When Life Is Hard...

Lately I've been around quite a few folks that are going through some difficult times. The loss of a loved one; the scary results of a medical test; an upcoming surgery; broken homes and relationships; questions about job security; court dates; the list seems endless.

At a funeral this week (one of those incredibly tragic things on the list), I heard two songs by the Christian group Mercy Me. Both songs, I thought, were inspiring and made me think. Sometimes, when things get incredibly hard, we need to focus our eyes on heaven. The first of these songs, "I Can Only Imagine," helped me do that. It was a wonderful reminder that as hard as life may get here, there will come a day "with no more pain and no more tears." The apostle John saw what that day looked like as he wrote in Revelation 21:3-4. "God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things is passed away." A day is coming when all sadness, sorrow, pain and death are no more. Can you imagine...

** no more car accidents
** no more reports of cancer
** no more fatal shootings
** no more wheelchairs or walkers
** no more pill bottles
** no more Alzheimer's units
** no more divorce
** no more financial uncertainty
** no more layoffs and closings

These things will be gone in the new order. That leads to the second song I heard, "Homesick." It speaks of an intense longing to go home to be with the Lord and loved ones. I think this captures very well my feelings at times, and maybe your's, too. There are times when the events of this world and the awful things that occur make us want to get away from all the ugliness and sin. I'm not advocating rushing that "get away." God has a plan for each one of us here and has numbered our days. I do, though, get the longing of the disciples and of countless numbers of Christians over the ages who have longed for His coming. I join them in saying, "Maranatha." "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus."

I hope when life is hard for you that you'll look to the Lord and to heaven. Thanks for reading and have a blessed day...