How do people see their church membership? Is my church membership critical to my life? In order words, is it a priority or just a preference? I would like to take some time to think about my relationship to "the church". Does the pattern of my worship mean anything? Does it say anything? If I worship only sporadically, even thought I have no legitimate reason for not joining with my brothers and sisters in worship, does this conflict with my words about loving Jesus? If I truly love Jesus, than isn't taking time to worship an indication of that love? If I love Jesus than isn't taking time to study His word an indication of that love and commitment? Are others watching what I do? What happens when what I say is in conflict with what I do? Will they believe what I say or what I do? The other side of this coin is that attending worship does not necessarily equate with a deep and abiding faith in Jesus. I could attend, and sometimes I even do, when I'd rather be somewhere else. If I am not engaged with what is happening on Sunday morning, things like singing the hymns, praying, reading along, listening carefulling and meditating on what is being said and done, than am I truly worshipping? Am I showing my love for Jesus?
What did Jesus mean when He said, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words." John 14:23-24 Or as John writes in His first letter,"If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen." 1 John 4:20 What would happen if every person who said they loved Christ and were thankful for what He did personally for them were motivated and committed to show that love by growing in their understanding of His Word, worshipping as regularly as then attend to their occupation and showed a loving attitude toward their brothers and sisters starting with their own spouses and children and parents? Like you I need to examine the ways in which I am putting my faith into action. If I am truly a member of the body of Christ then what should my participation in "church" look like? If the U and R are missing than is it really a church any longer?
Thanks for listening.
Blessings & Peace,
Pastor John
