The Importance of Church

I recently was talking with someone who said that ten churches had closed in her suburban area and all amalgamated into hers.

     “That must have pumped up your attendance,” I commented.

     “Actually, not.” She said. “Old people don’t like change and chose to stop going rather than move,” she surmised.

So that got me thinking about why church is so important.

If I am created in the image and likeness of God our Creator, it means I am both human and divine like Him. And learning a little about my divine would only make sense. And what better place to do that than church? Even to at least pay homage to that aspect of myself so I can be a whole, complete person.

I love church. Seeing others live their lives on the same foundation is an opportunity to see the many ways God is manifested. It is being united in a desire to learn about God and an obvious opportunity to see prayer made real.  The mill of faith grinds slowly and by observing, either from close up or from a distance, other families week after week, I get to witness for myself faith in action, how grace is manifested and how mountains and valleys are made level. Which in turn encourages me to persevere even when things look the bleakest. I can’t possibly be close with every family in my parish but by sharing a pew or having a pancake breakfast together, I get to observe them live out their faith, as well as they get to see me live out mine. 

‘The joy of the Lord is our strength’ the Psalmist tells us, and I’ve personally experienced it.  As I learnt more about God, together with others in church, I took a keener interest in them and they became family. That’s where I sampled the Kingdom and found where/what real joy is. The more I sampled, the more I desired. The gladness and the joy of The Lord is unsurmountable!

Living with a chronic health condition, often with pain, its easy to become self centered, self absorbed and introspective, losing touch with everything else because I can’t fold my laundry, peel an orange or piddle my pants. But the Bible reaches beyond, teaches beyond. It appeals to both my intellect and the God shaped hole in my heart that only He can fill. From there my emotions shift – convictions and condemnations become apparent that I was never aware of before. And that sets the stage for a change in disposition, a conversion, that ripples out to my will, my drive chain. Living with God helps regulates my emotions, guides me in all truth and directs my will where spiritual, emotional, mental well-being become the norm. All to the end of becoming the woman He always meant for me to be. And when that happens, MS takes a back seat. 

So yes, I think church is that important. Give it a go to see for yourself.