“Say a prayer for me!” Those are the words of some, as they observe others going to church. But those going to church should say, “How about you coming with me, and saying the prayer yourself?”
Allow me to say that I agree with that statement. Why ask someone else to pray for you when you can pray yourself? People should pray and go to church—so why shun the duty that one is suppose to do? (Luke 18:1; Hebrews 10:25; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-4). But here is a note of caution; God doesn’t listen to those who enjoy sin (John 9:31; Psalm 66:18). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Here are some reasons people give for not going to church: “It’s not necessary.” “I’m not interested.” “I don’t want to go to church.” “I’m too busy.” “I don’t believe in church, God, heaven, or hell.” “I can worship God without assembling with others.” “The church always asks for money.” “The preacher preached at me.” “There are too many rules.” “None of the churches teach the same doctrine.” “Church is boring.” “There are too many hypocrites in church.” “This is 2008, not ancient times.” “I don’t have clothes fit for church.”
Some of those reasons aren’t without merit, and some need clarification, but there are others which are ridiculous. Space will not permit answers for all that has been said, but allow me to say this: Jesus built a church (Matthew 16:18). The Bible teaches that God adds the saved to that church (Acts 2:47). Jesus will save the church from the fires of hell (Ephesians 5:23). The members came together on Sunday to give of their money and observe the communion (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; Acts 20:7). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. Centuries before Columbus and Magellan explored the seas, defying the myth of sailing off the edge of a flat world, Isaiah the prophet said that the earth was a circle (Isaiah 40:22). King Solomon, in writing about the creation of the earth, said God established a circle above the depth of space (Proverbs 8:27; Job 26:7). Now just think about it for a moment, how did these men know about the shape of the earth? The world at that time had no space travel nor pictures by satellites.
In the 20th century, medical science announced that life exists from the blood, but centuries before that, the Bible said life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11-14; Deuteronomy 12:23). In other research, medical science found that the happier the patient, the quicker he heals. So hospitals began to add more of the comforts of home to help the recovery process. But centuries before, the Bible stated that a merry heart serves as good medicine for the body (Prov. 17:22). Now once again, how did the Bible know things which were later confirmed by our science? I’ll tell you why—God! Jehovah is the Creator, and since He knows all things, He guided the writers (2 Peter 1:20-21). Hope to hear from you or see you at the services. |