Church. Church. Church.

Passing the sign that read, “Save today“, I pull into the parking lot like I do every Sunday.  I couldn’t find a spot right away because it seemed that everyone decided to come at the same time.  Fortunately, one kind man waved me in.  As I approach the entrance, old Mr. Foster was there greeting those walking in  He greets me about every other time I end up coming in.  Good ol’ Foster’s smile always inspires me to give a little to the box that sits right near the entrance.  Usually I only spend 40-50 minutes there, and usually I hear the same songs humming off the walls.  I come because my ‘cupboards’ are near empty and I need to fill ’em back up.  Sometimes I see other people that I know and do some small chat out of courtesy, but really I hope to spend as little time there as possible.  In and out, I say.  But you can be sure I’ll grab some of the coffee and donuts on the way out.  Once it’s all done, I wait patiently in line to leave — as many are in a hurry to scurry off to whatever afternoon errand they have.  I extend my hand and I’m off to the parking lot again.  “How is it that one saves?”, I asked myself driving home.  I looked down at my grocery list and sigh in relief that I was done with all the shopping for the rest of the week. 

Oh wait, did you think I was writing about going to church?  No one feels like that about church, do they?  Is there something wrong with being able to transpose ‘going to the grocery store’ with ‘going to church’? 

 

The Lord says [in Isaiah 29:13]: 
        

 

Despite popular belief, church is the body of believers.  Going every Sunday is so that they can be encouraged by one another, be spurred on in the faith, and hopefully desire God more.  The building itself functions as a place where they can meet.  Desire for Him is what separates a trip to the grocery store from a place to worship God. 

 

Let’s do an experiment right now.  Say church, church, church, church, church….(for 20 seconds)

 

Keep going.

 

Did that repetition help your understanding of the word?  Did it gain or lose meaning?  Can repetition in church attendance help nourish our relationship with God?  Of course it can.  Can repetition in church attendance help nourish our relationship with God without desiring Him?  ….