Why I Go to Church

"You really don't have to go to church to be a Christian."
"Well I don't go to church..I just watch it on television."
"You don't have to worship God in a church building. You can worship Him anywhere...even at the lake."

I have heard these and other arguments about church for years.  I have heard numerous opinions and I have come to a very important conclusion for my own personal life:  I need to go to church. I think back to my 10 year-old self and remember my grandmother taking me to the Catholic church and Bible study. I remember being around people who seemed like they honestly enjoyed being there. I still remember sitting beside her...the smell of her coat...her laugh and smile. I remember the solemn quiet and reverence of the service.  My denomination may have changed, but my respect and reverence for the house of God has not.

Recently I have lost some faith in humans (churchgoing humans)...especially in the area of those who are being judgmental and overspiritual.  I have also come to the conclusion that people will fail you because they are human. Churches are made up of imperfect people. As one preacher said "Don't try to find a perfect church because when you join it, it will not be perfect any more."  There are some very mean people and some people who say things that are hurtful. There are those who think they have it all figured out and those that profess to be perfect (or a model of perfection). All this being said, it does not deter me from church. I realize that the reason we go to church is to worship God, and He is perfect.  When I stand up and sing and worship God, I pretend that God is the only person in the audience and I am performing for Him alone. If the others want to join in and lift up their praise to God, they are more than welcome. God deserves all of our praises and we have to remember why we come to church: to worship Him and grow in our faith.

I agree with many experts that say the church (as a body of believers) is losing its power. However, I also believe the church is the only way that Christ made possible the spread of His gospel. There is no Plan B. There is no secret code leading to a Church 2.0. We are all that separates God and his perfect will and purposes from the world. We are His mouthpiece...his testimony.... and He depends us to change the  world.

I still believe in the church. Don't give up on the "bride" just yet.   Let's rebuild the church (the body not the building) one member at a time.

So you will find me in a pew or on a church stage leading worship nearly every week.  There is no place I would rather be on a Sunday morning.