Motive Check

I recently overheard someone at our church comment that she loves coming to church each week so she can see all her friends she misses all week long. I didn't think much of it until I heard someone else tell someone that he comes because he likes the music. Those were things I used to think and say when I was inexperiences enough to not fully grasp the concept of the church. I am certainly not an expert witness on biblical teachings of the church, however, I don't recall ever reading that socializing and tunes were the focus of our church experience.

I realize that I overheard small sound-bytes and those claims may not be the reasons those individuals attend church. Subsequently, those are the reasons that many attend church. Is that what God wants? Does he want to get people in the doors of His church by whatever the motivation, or does He want those other things to edify the worship experience?

I believe that the church was established for worshipping and praising God. People exalted His name through song and words, but the precipice was worship. A pastor once told me that parishioners often mistake the purpose of church by focusing inwardly rather that outwardly. What can I get out of it? I needed to hear that! Additionally, I believe that preachers feed into that by crafting sermons that fill those desires of the masses. Sunday school and Bible studies are designed for learning. Worship services are just that: Worship. We as Christians should check to ensure that our primary focus on attending church is to praise the Lord and thank Him for all the blessings we have been granted. To pray for others and seek guidance. When we do that, God will teach us what we need to be taught and we will feel the Spirit move within us. It isn't about what we think we need to hear or what the pastors feel the congregation needs to hear.

God's love and grace is amazing when we give Him all the glory and praise. Ensuring that we look outwardly towards sharing that grace and allowing Him to direct us will certainly bring a movement in each of us. Pastors and committees discuss frequently how to get more people into church and get them involved. Fellowship, music, and food are great and some may claim important. ButI believe that when more churches and church leaders and Christian congregations ensure the focus of Sunday morning services are solely worship centered, churches will experience a renewal and revitalization sorely needed.

Every Day Memorial Day

Today the nation celebrates our fallen heroes who died serving America during wartimes ago. These men and women made the ultimate sacrifice for a cause they believed worth dying for. They left their homes, their families, friends, knowing that they may never return. It was a cause they knew would leave an everlasting mark on history, for those they left behind and those yet to come. Isn't that just what Jesus did?

His death symbolized the penultimate sacrifice. He knew when He embarked on his ministry what fate belied Him. He left behind all that He knew to affect this world in such a profound way that His followers could never envision.

Every Easter and Christmas, many attend religious services for the only two times a year. Ministers preach about how we all should remember the true meanings of both holidays: the birth and resurrection of our Christ. Memorial Day is a time that we celebrate our military casualties. I don't want to distract attention from this important remembrance. Having served for several years in the Army, this day means a little something extra to me.

However, why aren't our relationships with God such that we memorialize Him every day? Why does it take a death or a holiday to remember all that He has done and continues to do in each of our lives each day? I fall short as well, but why? Maybe we place to much emphasis on what we see and who we know here on earth. Maybe we just simply haven't given ourselves and control of our paths completely over to Him.

May God pierce our hearts to look to Him every day for guidance, strength and remembrance.