Tell Out My Soul

A man asked a cleric: “If God is everywhere, why do I go to Church?”
The cleric replied: “The whole atmosphere is filled with water; but when you want to drink you have to go to a fountain or a well.”

In modern times it is easy to make excuses for not going to Church, but the rationalisation that God is everywhere therefore Church is unnecessary is very pervasive, and also very incorrect. Why go to Church? Personally, I can’t imagine my life without setting aside time to be with my Church family, to reserve my Sunday morning with those who share my faith and who are therefore bonded to me in deep and meaningful ways.

In Church we drink deep of the living water that Jesus promised when he spoke to the woman at Jacob’s well, in John 4:14,

“Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Because my faith and my love of God is such a profound part of my life, then the connections that I have formed with people that share this faith with me are unbreakable. Solace, comfort, love and care are the feelings that are generated by attending Church; this is natural when a Church congregation is operating the way it should, the way that Jesus meant us to be. And a sacred space is also important. A space that is consecrated to God and God alone means that we have raised God on high in our minds, and we show God that we have made a special home for him here on Earth. We love God so much that we create and care for these places. We serve God by attending his holy place, his dedicated and sacred abode where we gather to worship.

“Here I am to worship” is the first line of a beautiful hymn that is often sung at the start of a worship service. Here are the words of the chorus:

So, here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God!
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me!

As followers of Jesus we are called upon to demonstrate our faith in a public way, all together, before God in his holy place. This togetherness is powerful. I remember going to a nuclear disarmament rally when I was in my early twenties and I remember the feeling of solidarity and unity amongst the people marching. We didn’t know each other but we were one in mind, one in intention, and of course, one in emotion. And this had impact and effect. And for me, these feelings are infinitely magnified in Church when I’m there with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Primarily we gather to worship and to celebrate what God is and all the things he has done, all the things he is doing, and all that will come. We as a group are united with the Trinity: Father, Son and Spirit. Together as a group, we are one in Christ, and we offer up our songs and words of praise, contrition and petition. We also open our hearts and minds to the word of God and the teachings of our Lord Jesus. Church is a place that is distinct and apart from our daily lives and from the mundane distractions that separate us from God. In Church we offer ourselves, body, mind and soul, in a great giving up and surrender. We go to his house, out of respect, love and commitment, and to honour the One who holds our lives in his hands.

See you in Church!