Answers I have heard when a woman was asked why she attends church.
"I get to dress up."
"Church makes me feel safe."
"Because it is the decent thing to do."
"I want to be a better person."
"I like the music and get to sing."
"Its family time and the relatives will be there."
"I enjoy the holidays with a group of people who sing Christmas songs."
"It's what we have always done and seems like the right thing to do."
When asked what the real deep spiritual reason for going to church was, the woman had no answer; there was total silence. The word God was not used, nor was the name of Jesus Christ uttered.
Sadly, the husband was asked why he attends church and his answer was, "because my wife goes."
It is sad how few "church attendees" utter the name of Jesus Christ or even discuss His principles. Mostly, they repeat what they are commanded by the pastor to say without deeper conversations after the "service."
Often you will hear cultural standards repeated but never connected to the Bible.
Church attendance is treated like a "holy day of obligation" rather than a love for Christ and the edification of one another.
Our instructions in God's word for gathering together have nothing to do with pews all facing forward toward an elevated pulpit dominated by paid men who have special degrees.
Our instructions were for us to gather to edify one another in the Word. Every person in attendance shared from the word, praying or calling for a song, completely led by the Holy Spirit. There are no pre-organized programs that everyone should follow. There are no instructions as to the day to meet, the hour to meet or even that we should attend in the same place every week.
Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
God's heart, according to His word, was not that we meet together to follow the instructions of others in a ritualistic form to obey men. God wanted us to come together in small groups, each one speaking, singing, and teaching as led by the Spirit of Christ, not by man's mandates but through Christ.
If you were wondering why the church has entered the apostate age full of terrible doctrine and harsh man-made rules, the answer is that many hundreds of years ago, men full of pride developed their own ways to do things. They decided on their own, without the Holy Spirit, to follow rituals they think will please God.
However, in so doing, they neglected consulting the Bible and the Holy Spirit in favor of developing their own religion and ruling system to keep the people under their control.
The leaders in these false systems were more concerned about controlling the congregants than they were about the Holy Spirit leading in the hearts of each person who was filled with the Holy Spirit.
born-again
They oppress born again believers with their rules while silencing the Holy Spirit. Modern churches find it strange when someone is led by the Holy Spirit because they do not fit into the edicts of the men who love their control.
Those who have been led by the Holy Spirit think very differently from those who are accustomed to following men.
1 Corinthians 2:14 "But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Because the gospel of Christ has been so watered down and distorted, many of the people in those pews for hundreds of years were not born again. They were following a religion not indwelt by Christ.
This is why we are now living in the times of "religion" rather than the power of Jesus Christ.
Religion; a manmade system of rituals and practices largely based on culture more than a god.
When someone becomes born again, they are transformed by a Person, that is the Person of Jesus Christ Who is also God. He communicates with us, directs us, and convicts us of sin to cleanse us as we move through this life. It is a living relationship Who is with us all the time, no matter where we are and no matter what circumstances in which we find ourselves.
Dead rituals destroy any relationship with God. Mankind tends to become proud of the things they do for God. Instead of inquiring of God what He wants for us, mankind determines to God what he will do for God. Religion promotes arrogance and reduces dependence on the One True God.
If there are any rituals you think you are doing for God, ask Him if it's His idea or just your own or worse the idea of others who tell you what you should do. Then be willing to discard anything that God never commanded to follow Him.
His Word, the Bible will give you everything you need with the counsel of the Holy Spirit. You will be amazed at how many things will fall away from your thinking and your life followed by a great sense of relief and peace that comes from having the dross fall off that was weighing you down and bringing false guilt over things that God never commanded.
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