I have looked over my past postings and realized that the content of many of my posts where somewhat, if not outright, "anti-church attendence."
I have been a fool.
Everytime that I would attend Sunday Morning Services at 'such and such' Baptist Church, or any other denomination....I would slip into 'fault-finding mode'.
But wisdom and conscience combine in me to conclude Church Attendence is vital for those who are able.
In my opinion, the benefit does not necessarily always come from the Sermon (alliterated or otherwise). Or the music. Or the Special Music. Or even the tithing. (Yes, I, too, have been hammered into guilt by the preaching of Malachi chapter 3).
I have developed a bit of insight while sitting here at home and being my mother's caregiver.
And what I have concluded is this: I have never been to a church service where I didn't feel much better afterwards!!!!! Never!!!! Even when I was in classic FAULT-FINDING mode.
People need people. Christians need other Christians......even if it IS simply sitting beside them while watching the stage production.
I can tell ya one thing from straight-up experience: NO MAN IS AN ISLAND UNTO HIMSELF!!!
Trouble is: I am somewhat of a non-sociable person. Oh, I am friendly and all of that. I am not rude to folks that I greet and meet. But MY comfort zone is most pronounced when I am by myself.....no matter the occasion. Even a trip to Wal Mart stresses me out. But I MUST go to a store....so I won't starve. And in the same vein: I must go to a gathering of Christians.....so my spirit won't starve.
I have been hyper-critical about the seromons I have heard. I know the reason. I feed myself vigorously (at times) with HIGH POTENCY Christian material such as written by AW Tozer, Charles Spurgeon, Watchman Nee, etc etc etc. And it is difficult for me to glean much from a generic, alliterated sermon. Or.....a sermon that takes simply one text and then expounds it for 30 minutes. Espeically after reading the writings of those great men of God whose love for God can be felt in their writings. There is no way that I could preach a sermon with as much vital information as I read in the great Christian Classics.
BUT I STILL NEED CHURCH!!! I need the social component of being with people of like precious faith. Paul said this in First Corinthians: And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
And THAT is exactly what I say everytime I come up with a lame excuse for not attending services. I am saying (without actually saying) that I have no need for other Christians.
HOW SELFISH CAN I BE????????? Ohhhhhhhhhh.........I can be pretty intensely selfish. I am speaking the truth about what I have seen through much introspection. I heard it in a movie or somewhere: "I have seen the enemy....and he is me". Now, by no mean am I taking away from the evil works of satan. I realize that he is the main enemy of our souls. And I feel vulnerable to his attacks when I am out of fellowship. THIS MUST CEASE!!!!! in my life!!!! I am FULLY DETERMINED to KNOW CHRIST even if it kills me in so doing!!!!! Sounding a bit melodramatic aren't I??? Well, no matter. It's how I feel.
And now.....let me say this as well and as importantly: I NEED Y'ALL TOO!!!!!! I NEED you!!!! And right now, I need you to give me some feedback on why Church Attendence is important to you. What exactly, do YOU get out of attending a Church service??? Would ya do that for me? This thread is NOT for debating the merits of home church versus regular church. I just need to have discourse with fellow online Christians......while I get read for Church this morning.