I used to think I was better off spiritually in not attending a church than in attending one that certain aspects of it bothered me. Now, if a church is clearly pushing unsound, false, and deadly doctrines and teachings do not go there.

But to say you can’t find a good church? That’s an excuse. You know what that really is? A person listening to the subtle, seductive sounds coming from the tongue of the Serpent as you justify, rationalize, and confirm within your mind you’re not going to church is really best.

Chruch, the BODY OF CHRIST is NOT about one cell, one organ, one part. It isn’t about you and making you feel good, or to agree with what exists in your heart and mind. We attend a church that preaches the Word of God to;

Praise and honor the Lord our God.

To hear the Word of God and grow spiritually.

To be among and within the body of believers, the body of Christ as Jesus our Head.

To obey the Word of God.

To rejoice, to give thanks, to pray, to sing praises, and to fellowship with fellow believers and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

No person can go it alone. No matter how they continue to kid themselves, which in truth is deceive and lie to themselves, well, with the help of that wee voice of the Evil One making sure you continue to justify and rationalize all the reasons — the excuses — as to why you don’t and won’t attend a Bible-preaching, Bible-teaching church on a regular basis. To partake. To be among fellow believers in the Word. In praise. In honor. In awe. In reverence. In obedience.

No excuses will stand as you fall prone before the Lord.

I once thought I could go it alone. There were no more good, sound, right churches.

I was wrong. I was in grave error.

There is no ideal, no perfection on this corrupted earth. Even in every church. Because it is comprised of people, people still wrestling with the spiritual war of flesh versus the spirit.

But to go it alone is disobedience. To go it alone and refuse to search out a Bible-preaching church and attend that church regularly is spiritual death as well. No matter how much you convince yourself it isn’t and you’re right, justified, and best in not attending a church.

I found a church to attend. And my wife and I have attended there for 3 years now. And it was some of the best steps I took in my spiritual life. Is it perfect? Far from it! It is a place where the Word of God is soundly preached and taught, where praises are offered up as a body of believers, where prayers are offered up, and where God the Father is revered. Praised. Heard. Loved. And thanked. And where other like-minded souls partake in the Lord’s Day in these most important and obedient spiritual matters in an individual’s life and walk with the Lord.

Don’t screw things up more. No more excuses. No more listening to the wrong voices.

Do the right thing spiritually. For the Lord. Because it really isn’t about you. It’s about God and serving Him. And doing it as a body. Together. As it ought to be, as it is laid out in the Word of God…

Ken Pullen

Friday, May 28th, 2021

ACP — A Crooked Path

Church, It’s Not About You

WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021

By Anne Reed

Reprinted from American Family Association

A recent Gallup study revealed that only 49% of Americans are members of a local church. Another recent study showed that 65% of Americans claim to be Christians. So, why the disconnect?

COVID-19 restrictions stopped us all in our tracks. Depending on a number of factors – location, risk of contraction, etc. – isolation, loneliness, and discouragement became a part of our existence. In varying degrees and lengths of time, we experienced the loss of fellowship with other believers. For some, it was weeks, months, even a year. For others, the shift brought an end to the habit altogether. It formed a new habit – not meeting with other believers at all.

The writer of Hebrews warned us about this:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Notice that within this concept of gathering together, encouragement seems to be an expected outcome – and responsibility. The charge of spurring others on toward love and good deeds is not relegated solely to the man standing behind the pulpit.

But somewhere along the journey, our expectations for assembling with other believers have become distorted and selfish. And why not? That’s the American way of life.

In the words of AFA founder Don Wildmon, “I go to church, the minister preaches, and I go home. That’s what Christians do now.”

How often do we think about – and pray about – opportunities to serve and encourage others before getting in the car and driving to the building where we congregate? Or do we think about being served and encouraged by the message the pastor delivers? (I’m intentionally leaving out the praise and worship portion of service – that’s a blog in itself.)

In our Western mentality, we “go to church” as a form of entertainment. We expect to “feel good” while we’re there. It requires little of the church attender. So little, he or she could really just sit at home and watch it on a screen. That requires no giving, no serving, no loving, no risk…just receiving.

It’s a little like pornography use. Sorry about the shock factor, but let’s face it, the all-about-me mentality is the same. Within the context of natural marriage, God designed sex as a means to lovingly serve one another and grow in intimacy. But with pornography, the user becomes increasingly less concerned with meeting the needs of his or her spouse and more preoccupied with self-indulgent pleasure.

As a person becomes consumed by selfishness, ironically, he or she ultimately loses power, strength, and vigor. Relationships suffer as a result – with God and others.

To cultivate relationships requires us to serve others unselfishly, with humility. That means we open ourselves to risks. We welcome the input and correction of others. And, “[d]o nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

The word “encouragement” has become misunderstood along the way. Encouragement is not flattery; it’s far more than a mechanism to help us “feel good.” It is intended to inspire hope and courage to rise above fear and doubt to accomplish a meaningful purpose – a God-glorifying purpose.

As we fellowship and encourage each other in the truth of God’s Word and character, we are equipped through the Holy Spirit for the daily battle – to do brave things…to do compassionate things…to do His will.

As things shift in America and persecution becomes a reality for us, we cannot afford selfishness in our lives. It is a destroyer. It always has been and always will be.

Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:8-10).

If at all possible, gather with other believers. Listen. Encourage. Serve. Love.