Good Doctors

Imagine a cancer patient who has secured one of the best cancer doctors in the country. He knows that he was selected by this doctor when so many others were not. The doctor has cured this kind of cancer before, and promises he can do it again. The new and entusiastic patient lists the doctor's credentials to whoever will listen. He is his doctor's biggest fan. He patiently endures weeks of testing. He listens carefully to the doctor's plan. He makes his appointments for the first several treatments, but eventually he just quits showing up for the treatments. Oh he continues to boast about his doctor. He loves his doctor! He knows who his doctor is, and he is confident that his doctor knows him. He is sure of it. Yet he continues to skip his doctor's prescribed treatments. He loves the doctor, but his receptionist is ugly and rude. The waiting room is always hot, and he doesn't enjoy sitting in a room full of sick people. Above all of this, the treatments are uncomfortable! "Isn't that what the doctor is supposed to do, make you comfortable?!" What would you say to such a patient?

Christians are infected with the worst of all cancers - sin. The Great Physician has chosen us; we did not choose Him. [John 15:16] His promises are sure. He has forgiven men of sin before, and He will do it again. We are His greatest fans. Yet, like the man described above, many ignore His plan! [Worship with regularity and with other Christians!] Oh they attend church for a time, but soon they quit going. Someone in Sunday School is ugly and rude to them. The pews are uncomfortable. The building is hot. "The people in this church have problems." And above all, the Pastor doesn't make them comfortable! Isn't that his job, to make people comfortable!

Being a faithful member of a church is not easy! People have problems. Churches have problems. The building will not always be to your liking. The Pastor, in fact, the Word of God, will not always make you comfortable, but it was never designed to do so. The Great Physician's prescription remains the same. Worship with regularity and with other Christians. We need worship. We need each other. Lastly, do not say that you love the Great Physician if you are not willing to what He says.

Bad Kids

The Scriptures are clear. We are commanded to worship God with regularity and with other Christians. We need to worship, and we need one another. [See my last two posts.] Yet many absentee church members claim with confidence their relationship with Christ is A.O.K. This causes me to wonder.
Have you ever watched a really bad kid persist in disobedience? He pushes his parents [who should require immediate obedience but don't!] to the edge of insanity. Just as the parent starts to actually do something about the behavior the child switches gears. Like a master he bats his eyelashes and with syrup gushing from his deceitful little heart he begins to fain his love. "I love you soooo much Mommy." Parents don't fall for it!!! It is called manipulation. Whenever I watch this senario play out [and it is all too often] I think of Christ's words to His followers in John 14:15: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." Parents, look at little Johnnie and let him know in no uncertain terms, "If you loved me you would have done what I said!" Absentee church member, how can you say that you love Christ when you do not obey His commands? The Scriptures are clear, you can't. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."

We Need Each Other!

We need to worship! We need to worship regularly with each other. We need each other! In Hebrews 10:23-25 we are commanded to worship with other Christians and with regularity.

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

Notice that God tells us to assemble. We are commanded to meet together and hold fast to our confession, stimulate one another to love and good deeds and encourage one another. Why? Because sometimes we [as individuals] waver. Sometimes our love grows cold and lives stagnate. Sometimes we get discouraged. Yes, we need to Worship because we need the One to whom all worship is due. In addition, we need other Christians to love and to love us. We need to hold each other mutually accountable. We need to encourage and be encouraged. Brother and sister go to church consistently. We need you, and you need us.

We Need to Worship!

Ezra 3:1-7: Upon returning from captivity we see God's people living by "The Book". They rebuild the altar and set it upon it's foundation. (Vs. 2-3) They begin offering the prescribed sacrifices and celebrating the ordained Feasts and Festivals. (Vs. 3-6) They begin the process of rebuilding the Temple. (Vs. 7) This is "what they did", but "why did they do it?" Verse 3 tells us why. "So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands..." Did you see their motivation? It was fear. Fear?!!! Immediately I began to recoil at the thought. I could just hear the scoffers revving their engines. "See religion is just a crutch for the weak and fearful!"

How do we answer such attacks? Here is my answer. Speaking as an amputee - crutches are good! I need them. If your legs don't work right you need crutches. If you are sick you need a doctor. If you are lost you need a guide. If you sinful you need a Savior! If you are (spiritually) dead you need (spiritual) life. God's people in Ezra's day needed God and they worshipped. We need God today, and we too should worship. You see with Christ there is no good reason to fear, but without Him there is no good reason not to. This world is a terrifying place, and without the forgiveness of sins the one to come is even worse. "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!" Hebrews 10:31 We need to worship because we need the One to whom all worship is due.