Last Sunday morning in church, the congregation was asked, "Why are you here?"  The pastor gave an answer that, we had to admit, was the truth, at least for some, if not for many. Some well-meaning folks come out of habit; they had always come to church since they were children. It's just what they do!  Some came because they are trying to be righteous; they were working hard to do what they thought was right. The extreme form of this is called "works righteousness" or "self-righteousness."  Yet some come to worship along with other worshippers, letting their hearts and voices show their love for Jesus Christ and their love for each other.


Through history, there have always been people who worship for other reasons rather than their love for God. In the words of Zechariah, Chap. 7, verse 4, "Then the word of the Lord came to me (Zechariah):  'Ask all the people  of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the past 70 years, was it really for me (the Lord) that you fasted?  And when you were eating and drinking, were you not just feasting for yourselves?'  Are these not the words the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets?'  But they refused to pay attention."


The Study::  "The Israelites had lost their sincere desire for a loving relationship with God.  They had been fasting without a proper attitude of repentance or worship.  They fasted and mourned during their exile with no thought of God or sins that had caused their exile in the first place.  God says that an attitude of worship without a sincere desire to know and love Him will lead to ruin."


When Jesus was on this earth, he saw through those who came to him without a repentant heart or sincere love. He saw right through them. But, he met with the curious, the sorrowing, the sick and the dying.  He turned no one away and neither does the church. The church, as did Jesus, keeps their "arms" open wide for any and all.  And the church hopes that those that come for any reason will be caught up in the abundant love and joy that many people have received that they might, in turn, give away to others, just as Jesus had always done, just as the church was born to do, and we are the church.


I love church!  I love every part of it.  We have wonderful music, with a live band and lay people as worship leaders, singing along with us.  Their love for Christ is contagious, leading us to become infected with the same wonderful "heart disease"-- love.  I love our pastors; whether they preach or lead us in communion,  their presence reminds us of the leadership they offer to us that we might find the forgiveness and  reality of worship that Christ wants for His own.


Next time you ask yourself, Why do I go to church? or Why don't I go to church? May your answer be a true one so you can know yourself.  I hope you find a loving God there!


Remember to pray for all the world to know and love Jesus Christ and each other!


Jo  in MN