Why Church?

I've been thinking about something and thought I'd get all you bloggers to give your input. If you are reading this post and you go to church, why do you go to church?

I've been in church since I was a baby. My Dad was/is a pastor and now my husband is a pastor. Church is a very big part of my life. But I am becoming more and more convinced that church is a fad for people.

When we lived in Mississippi it was very obvious that church was what everyone did. We were in the Bible belt and nearly everyone went to church on Sunday morning. But honestly (in a lot of cases) their church attendance on Sunday morning did not mean a change in their lifestyle Monday through Saturday. They were still the same person. On Sunday morning they would get dressed up, go sit in church and make their "appearance" then it was back to the next thing they had to do.

I really don't think Mississippi or the Bible belt is the only place that happens. Where in the Bible does it say that if I go to church, then I am good and I will go to Heaven? If your still looking for it, you can stop! It's not there. Church attendance does not equal Heaven. However, I think you could say that lack of Church attendance equals lack of Christianity or desire for Christ.

How is it that we can say, "well I go to church every Sunday morning, so I am good, I"m a Christian"? Church attendance does not equal Christianity. If you believe that by going to church on Sunday morning and even teaching Sunday school or Jr. Church or being involved in some way makes you a Christian - STOP right now. You are no better than the guy who stays at home in bed on Sunday morning.

We don't go to church to get noticed by our neighbors, we don't go to church because we don't have anything better to do (and therefore don't not go because we do, although that's a different post), we don't go to church so our kids can learn a Bible Story (although Bible stories should be taught to our children).

I believe we go to church to Draw Closer to Jesus. How can we call ourselves Christian if we don't have a desire to know Christ more. Not just know Him, but know Him more! To grow in our relationship with Jesus. That's why we attend church, that's why we have a daily devotion time where we read our Bible and Pray (talk to Him). That's why when Sunday morning comes we shouldn't be found anywhere else but in the sanctuary of our Church desiring to learn more and draw closer to God.

Let me just say as a side note - If you are not learning more and gaining from your Sunday service then you need to find a church where you can be challenged and grow and draw closer to God.

I get so tired of people saying they "have to go to church". You don't HAVE to go. You should desire to go. If you don't have the desire then you are only playing Christianity and that is dangerous. The Bible says in Revelation 3:16, "Because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth." It's better to be cold than to be lukewarm (or fake your Christianity). God desires wholehearted, sincere people and responses, anything less suggests that other things have priority in our lives and come before our relationship with Him. If you want the minimum then you risk missing Jesus altogether.

Am I wrong here? Give me your thoughts.