WHY do you go to Church?

[Cow Poke]

I hear so much complaining about "what I don't get from Church"... not enough depth, "I'm not being fed", "I don't go because it doesn't do anything for me".

Is it POSSIBLE that the reason you SHOULD go is because you have something to GIVE?

Seriously, don't we all have talents, spiritual gifts, abilities, etc.....

"The preacher doesn't teach aplogetics" -- volunteer to teach a Bible Class.

I have never seen such a "what's in it for ME" attitude amongst the brethren..... To me, Church should be like a hospital -- SICK people go there. People who need loved, encouraged, discipled, nurtured, taught. And those of us who have some degree of spiritual maturity can GIVE.

I think if we ever get to the point where we "ask not what my Church can do for me... ask what I can do.....*"





*with apologies to JFK

[T-Shirt Ninja]

I have never seen such a "what's in it for ME" attitude amongst the brethren..... To me, Church should be like a hospital -- SICK people go there. People who need loved, encouraged, discipled, nurtured, taught. And those of us who have some degree of spiritual maturity can GIVE.

Whenever I don't feel like going to church, I remind myself that the reason I don't feel like going is because I'm spiritually sick and need the medicine that is given there. Being Orthodox that medicine is the Eucharist or Confession.

[Quantum Weirdness]

I can say why I don't go to church. The sermons bore me badly. It's just singing and listening to somebody complain about the state of society. But I must admit, I should be there to attempt to teach the flock about the bible so that they don't lose the faith.
For that reason, I feel guilty.

[KingsGambit]

I'll admit sometimes it's hard for me to get up and go. But my main motivation isn't anything to do with getting anything out of it. It's simply because Hebrews 10:25 commands us to go. In any event, we need to spend time with other Christians and support one another and it's hard to do that if we don't go spend any time with them.

I am not really a fan of the style of contemporary worship music, and that's what is played at our church. But I have to remind myself... this isn't about you, so get over it.

[Catholicity]

Honestly? I go not because I "feel" like going....but because scripturally and in my head I believe its the right thing to do. I go because I believe somehow in going, I am serving the Lord according to His Word, and I am raising my children to do the same. If I went because I "felt" like it or because I "got" something out of it, (so to speak, I don't believe in going to church to get something I go to serve God) I probably would go rarely or never. Heck if I did only the things I "felt" like doing then I'd be one selfish person.

[Just Some Dude]

I just go because I know/feel I'm supposed to, irregardless of whether or not the preaching/singing is my style or not. If there are severe problems with a church (not based on feeling, but logic), I'll switch.

[princesa]

The priest in my church is probably an atheist or agnostic. My conversation with him years ago left mdisgusted . I went to him at a low point looking for answers. I wrote about it here some time ago. I go to mass sometimes and am thrilled when he's not giving the homily since he is not a genuine person. When he's not there I feel spiritually lifted.Especially when I go with my family

[mossrose]

I go to worship and glorify God.

[Cow Poke]

I go to worship and glorify God.

And I started to write about your situation, but I'll leave that for you to say, or not... please be assured that I believe you really have TRIED to make Church "work", but you didn't just give up! I would really enjoy worshiping with you some day.

[Cow Poke]

With one notable exception, very good responses, and I appreciate your input.

[JohnnyP]

I had a commitment to help elderly/handicapped in by pushing their wheelchairs off their buses, then I got caught up in my own stuff and haven't done it in a while. I want to do it again, to be of service to others -- doing that helps me more than I help them.

[Raphael]

Well apart from being on sound or playing bass most Sundays the main reason I go is because I believe it is an essential part of the Christian walk.

We cannot be pursuing fulfilment in God if we are fleeing from His people the whole time.

Will post more later, gotta run now.

[mossrose]

And I started to write about your situation, but I'll leave that for you to say, or not... please be assured that I believe you really have TRIED to make Church "work", but you didn't just give up! I would really enjoy worshiping with you some day.

Thank you, I appreciate that.

And you are right. We did not give up on trying to make church "work". We had to make sure we were worshiping correctly. And that involved, for us, separating ourselves from corporate worship for a time.

We have not given up "the assembling together of the saints". We have fellowship with other believers. But we have grown so much this past year. We are worshiping as we believe we are to worship. And we have a peace and joy that we didn't have for so long.





And I value your advice and wisdom through that last hard year while we struggled. I look forward to the day when we will worship together.

[One Bad Pig]

I go because I am in need of a Physician.

I go because it is a chance to experience a little bit of heaven on Earth.

Least importantly, I go because I am a cantor, and help lead the congregation in worship.

[Jedidiah]

I must agree with CP. I am disturbed by "I am not being fed," or "I don't get anything out of it." These may not mean that the complainer is bad or wrong. I have good friends who left the body they had been at for years because "I am not being fed." The now attend a different denomination and do serve genuinely. I still think/feel that my feeding comes from the Word. We do have a great young pastor at the church we now attend. He does preach straight from Scripture.