I want to ask the simple question of why one should go to church. Can't you just be a good Christian without going to church every week? Isn't that legalistic? This could be asked from multiple vantage points or points of departure, so this look is just one of those. However I do believe all of the different points of departure I have used are related and build off each other. It doesn’t make this any less valid.
I will look at it from the perspective of the Church corporate being the Bride of Christ. Or perhaps you could say, we are currently engaged to Christ, awaiting the actual marriage that will happen in the last day as we enter into Final Resurrection glory. Each one of us are sons of God individually, but a part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church – the Bride of Christ.
Usually when people are planning on getting married, they go on dates. If they didn’t ever see each other, their relationship would be thin, and marriage may not be the best of ideas. In the same way, we who are to be married to Christ, should not cut off communion with each other and Christ. We must have our “dates” with Christ, which takes place each Lord’s Day in church.
Christ does it the traditional way. He picks us up. Now true, it seems like we are the one’s driving to His House. But it is He Who calls us into His presence, takes charge, and brings us into the throne room of Heaven upon our confession of sin and His declared forgiveness. He comes near to us, to draw us into His presence. He invites us to His house for dinner at His table in communion. We do things for Christ such as give our praises, but it is primarily Him who takes charge and works in us, bringing out the best in His Bride elect. If you reject these things Christ does for you on a corporate level, how can you expect to have a real personal relationship with Him, or take parts in the fruits of His Kingdom after this life?
If you are out of the Church, don’t get down on yourself. Look at it as going on a date with your Groom – the Groom Who loves you enough to lay down His own life for you in the cruelest of ways. Come into Church not hoping for an emotional experience, but expecting God’s work to give you strength in all you do. One day we will live with Christ in His presence. For now we must accept and love the community He has given us now, and await the Final Resurrection glory we are promised to obtain in the Last Day through Jesus Christ.
What do you think?
God bless His Church
God bless you
March 1, 2009
Ryan Hampton
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4 comments:
Very good analogy, Ryan. Thanks for writingn this.
Blessings,
Mrs. Cindy
would predestination be like an arranged marriage?
I think we should be careful we have correct understanding of the term predestination. While all things are predestined (including our salvation), some things are also done by human choice (perhaps even our own salvation). I'm not sure exactly what point you are trying to make, whether in agreance, disagreance, or neutrality to this post or older posts, but the Bible is clear both on our duties, and on God's Sovereign plan.
That said, our human marriages are arranged and forordained by God, yet also by our own choices. The same could be said about the marriage of Christ and the Church.
I do see what you say in that the Father elects the Bride for Christ. Christ speaks of coming for those the Father has chosen for Him. But I'm not sure the analogy completely holds up. Christ (and the Spirit sent by the Father and Christ) pursues us, and we still enter by choice (which only comes after the grace has been given).
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