April 18, 2018

Church Doesn’t Save You

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6

It sounded good. Her voice was adamant, determined. Surely, she was speaking for God. Christians – true Christians – should be willing and able to give one hour each week to attend church and worship God.

Except, maybe, she was missing the point. Something one sweet friend pointed out.

Attending church each week doesn’t make us a Christian. Not even if we add Sunday school to the equation. It’s not about showing up. It’s not even about giving the correct answers. It’s about a Savior and our hearts.

Maybe she thinks that someone without a church home or regular church attendance needs a sermon. Maybe she believes faith will rub off on someone she cares about. Maybe she believes that one hour a week will make us all better people.

But here’s the thing: If all you’ve got for God is one hour each week, then maybe you don’t know Jesus at all. It’s a funny thing about faith. The more you know Jesus, the more you want to know. The more time you spend with Him, the more time you want to spend with Him.

I’m not saying that someone who doesn’t attend church, or someone who only spends time with God once a week, isn’t a Christian. Only God knows our hearts and knows whether we are truly saved or not. What I am saying is that true faith provides evidence of that in how we live our lives.

We all make mistakes. We are all sinners. We all at times do things we know we shouldn’t do. But there should be something in us that sets us apart, a light that shines truth, a heart that sees beyond ourselves.

Church isn’t about a building. It isn’t about style of worship or about showing up and ticking that box off your to-do list. It’s about learning and growing, about fellowship, about choosing to honor and glorify the One who saved us from eternal hell.

She was right about our need for fellowship with other believers. I always encourage people to get involved in a small group. Get to know people who share your faith. Let them hold you accountable and you do the same for them. Participate. Pray. Be there in heart and spirit, as well as in body.

And take your critical, pointing fingers down a notch. Be an encourager rather than a critic. Be part of the solution rather than stirring up discord and problems. Be kind. Be gracious. Let mercy fill your heart. See others through the eyes of Jesus.

Attending church is a wonderful thing. I rarely miss that. It’s the same with Sunday school and Bible study. But I do those things because they feed my heart, they bring me closer to Jesus and surround me with people who love Him too. It’s not about giving God an hour of my time. It’s about showing He is the foundation of my life.

May 10, 2016

Be Still Before Him

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says:

“In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it.

-- Isaiah 30:15

Some days are just busy. I’m frantically trying to get everything done, to meet everyone’s needs, and there just doesn’t seem to be enough time for it all.

Deep breath.

I don’t have to get it all done. As someone told me today, it’ll be there tomorrow. I laughed at the time. That’s what I know. Because at the end of the day, it’ll be me that gets it done or it won’t get done.

It creates a busyness that frustrates me. Do you know what I mean? I long for the days I could kick back and simply read a book without interruptions and without feeling guilty for all I still needed to do.

Then I am reminded that rest is available. It’s been freely given to me but I have to reach out and accept it. Sometimes I have a difficult time doing that.

I think it’s part of being human. We want to control our surroundings. We want to be productive people. We want to look pulled together. So we circle round and round on a merry go round that never, ever ends.

Priorities. What are my priorities? Are they that never ending to do list? Or is it to quiet myself before my Lord and Savior to be strengthened and savored in His Presence?

I am not a perfect person. No one is. So I take it to God. I tell Him about the mistakes I’ve made, ask for His forgiveness and then take a different path.

And then I rest in it. We often beat ourselves up about something long after God has put it behind Him. Follow His lead. Move on.

Walk in His strength. Trust Him to work it all out. Be quiet before Him and listen for His voice. Remember that it is in the quiet stillness that we can most hear Him speak.

I don’t have to get it all done. Really, I never will. And that’s okay. Because I’m okay in His Presence. I find rest there. Always.