Why Do We Go to Church?

I was reading a devotion today about a woman that went into a remote area where people didn’t know God. She worked for 5 years without any result. They just finished putting in a runway when a pregnant village woman was struggling. They flew her to a hospital and she came back healthy, and with a healthy child. The people were amazed and began asking questions and then started following the teachings that were presented. The good news is that they were being surrounded by God’s word. The possible bad news was they might have been doing it based on technology and not based on faith. I know that there was a group in Papua New Guinea known as the Cargo Cult that acted similarly. They saw the “riches” of the westerners and though if they duplicated their life, they too would have riches. When we put it that way, going to church doesn’t necessarily mean seeking God and His leading. Many Americans go to church for all the wrong reasons. They go there to please family members. They go because it can be good for business exposure and connections. They do it because they feel they have to. They do it in order to become a member or get confirmed. I know there are many other reasons people go that are less than admirable. A telltale sign that we might be there for the wrong reason is having no hunger for God as we go and leaving with the same attitude we came with, or worse. So, how do we avoid just going because...? I know we have talked about this before. Get enough sleep. Spend time with God in prayer before going to church asking for God to speak to you and direct your ways. Arrive in time to settle in the pew, find and mark the hymns and scripture readings, read through the hymns to understand the content, and spend time in prayer. It is great to catch up with how others are doing, but it is more important to be prepared for worship. Catch up after the service. Spend time in the word at home, be encouraged by reading from a devotional book, and put your faith into action. Will some people feel you are stand-offish and radical? Maybe, but did you come for them or for God? Bible studies are another great way to grow and be challenged and/or encouraged in faith. Father, open our eyes to see You. Direct us by through the Holy Spirit and put a song on our heart! Amen