Got Church?

[if not, here's what you're missing]
One of the most impacting things I’ve heard within the last few years was that, “The people you associate with, and the books you read, determine where you will go in life.” I’m a firm believer in this, and even though when I was told this, it had nothing to do with Christianity, it seems as if this theory were meant for such a religion. The most impacting part about this is, it determines where you will go in the next life as well.



I’ve spoke on the Bible a whole lot in the past couple months, but there’s no end to the impact it can have on someone’s life, so I’ll briefly relate a bit of the impact to support this theory. Since the books you read determine where you will go in this life as well as the next, it’s obvious the Bible should definitely be one of those books.



One of the biggest things I get out of church is translation. The testimony I’m about to tell you isn’t coincidence either… it’s God! Whenever I see the topic I am to discuss, such as this one, I initially have no idea what I’ll write about. I turn to God through prayer and pray he help me be able to relate and he’s pulled through every time. After my prayer, I went to my Tuesday night service and God revealed to me a translation from the book of Numbers. It was one of those stories I have a hard time relating to, let alone translating. The preacher broke down the 22nd chapter in a way that stung, and that feeling can’t be gained any where else but in Church. So when you pass up church, you miss out on things like this, and you never know when the word will touch you. Your best chance is to make a habit of attending.



Hmm, attending… Did that word strike a nerve? Hope so because I really wasn’t sure how else I would lead into this discussion about schooling. Growing up in the church - “back in my day” - children’s church was called Sunday school. I never really took it literally, but looking back on it, it makes sense. Monday through Friday, many people, especially teens and younger attend school regularly. Saturday of course is that “day off”. Then for Christians, there’s church on Sunday, or – Sunday school. Is that not the same thing? You go to church to learn, much like with school. You’ve got your textbook (the bible) your teacher (the pastor/preacher) and your classmates (the congregation).



In this sense, your homework is to study the bible on your own, meaning you read on your own time. That way, when you are unsure about something, or need guidance on the tougher topics, you have a place where you can compare and contrast thoughts, or just simply pick up on something you might not have caught on your own.



In the interest of keeping this short, I’ll move on from there. It is a common belief that a church is made up of 4+ walls, chairs, and an altar/stage. If that’s all you have, then there’s nothing but a building and furniture there. A church is nothing without the congregation! The God-fearing individuals who come together in organized meetings throughout the week. These are those people you associate with from the theory we discussed earlier. Fellowship among your brothers and sisters in Christ is what makes you a stronger Christian. Of course you don’t necessarily have to attend church to be a Christian. But where’s the fun in living alone? The moral support of those who you can turn to, to know that you’re not in the fight alone should definitely be enough to keep you going strong. And where else can would you be encouraged and influenced into ministry? Being involved is a sure way to help you grow into stronger Christians. I speak from experience. I’m glad to be able to share my experiences and thoughts with you. I helps me gain the self-control I need to become a stronger Christian, and I appreciate the opportunity! Be blessed and stay bless guys!

-C J