Why we Gather
In the past I thought that “going to church” was my duty to God. I thought that local church buildings were somehow mystically ‘the house of God.’ This understanding came about because I was taught from my youth that fastidious decorum was required while I was there. I was told not to make noise or run, but to be reverent and still. In those days, it seemed that the reason we gathered with others was to worship God by our ‘sacrifice of praise’ and by listening to His word as expounded from the pulpit.
Later in life, gathering with others often seemed to be all about me. I went weekly to hear a good message and get fueled up for the week ahead. I was looking for a feeling that would indicate that the Holy Spirit was moving and that He was filling me with the fuel of blessing in my soul so that I could better resist temptation all week—or at least until Wednesday night when I could gather again if needed. I was there to get something.
Each of those ideas missed the point because they were based on faulty thinking.
The first flaw was thinking of the Church as a place or as a group of people rallied under a particular (denominational) flag.
Another flaw was thinking of the Church as a hierarchy with a chasm between the laity (regular people) and the clergy (the trained and ordained).
As it turns out, Scripture presents us with a far more beautiful view. Instead of strict hierarchy and burdensome conduct rules, we find passages like these from Paul’s letters.
Romans 1:11–12 “For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine” (NASB 2020).
2 Corinthians 1:24 “Not that we domineer over your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm” (NASB 2020).
2 Corinthians 4:5 “For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants on account of Jesus” (NASB 2020).
Philippians 2:2–5 “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility consider one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (NASB 2020).
Peter is similarly clear saying in 1 Peter 5:1–3, “Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock” (NASB 2020).
We gather to build up the body of Christ.
We gather to encourage one another.
We gather to fellowship together.
We gather to receive.
We gather to give.
We gather to Love.
We gather to share Life with one another.
“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of people, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” (Ephesians 4:14–16, NASB 2020)
In gathering we worship God.
Grace and peace to you.
Larry
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