Read Exodus 20:8-11

            Many of us know in our heart of hearts that honoring God by worshiping with other believers on the Sabbath Day is not only what God desires, but what God commands in the third of the Ten Commandments.  Many Christians have somehow convinced themselves that “going to Church” is not an important spiritual discipline for the faithful.  In fact one Church Goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday…
           “I've gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.” This started a real controversy in the Letters to the Editor column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
            “I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some
32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.  Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!”

            Most Christians who decidedly stay away from Church are NOT on a quest for a pure spirituality, outside of any tie to organized religion.  Rather, most of them are retired from any spiritual quest and any spiritual discipline.  Most of them are NOT making “sabbath time” on their own. 

            To quote a friend of mine (Rev. Steven McKinley): “It seems to me that to say you are spiritual and religious but choose not to be a part of the institutional church is like saying you love softball, but don’t like the idea of playing on a team.  This is how the Christian life is lived, in community.”  The Church is a sinful and imperfect community where we seek God’s guidance and forgiveness; where we genuinely console and celebrate with each other through the struggles and joys of life.  The Church is the institution through which more of the world’s needy people receive volunteer help than any other.
            Thank God for the physical and spiritual nourishment the Church provides!  Pass the word and invite someone to worship with you at Holy Trinity.

 

                                                                                    Yours In Christ,

                                                                                    Pastor Tom Lichner