Look for these Three Cs at Church

>> Wednesday, November 18, 2009

I find myself ever pondering why people go to church. One of last Sunday's texts talked about the confidence that comes from knowing forgiveness. Since last Sunday's service, I've added two more "C" words that one should expect to find at church.

Comfort. Most of us attend a church whose worship experience we find comforting. This is particularly true when we consider the music the church offers, but other elements such as hearing scripture read from a familiar translation, or the administration of the sacraments help us find comfort in a chaotic world.

Confidence. Being reminded each week that when we confess our sins, our sins are forgiven gives us the confidence to do some of the things that Jesus asks of us (even if we sense we may fail more often than not). The reminder of God's spirit that lives within us and moves among us also gives us confidence, as does a daily walk with God.

Challenge. But if we go just for the easy stuff, we miss a big part of what church should be for us. Church is a place where we should regularly experience a challenge to take what we know and experience and apply it to the world in which we live. God desires that the experience of Christianity not be limited to the church, but that the teachings of Christ be carried out in the world outside the church.

But, to accept (and live by) such Challenges, we need the Confidence that comes from sins forgiven and a walk with the king, supplemented by the regular Comfort we find in the familiar that worship among friends offers us.

So, when you go to church next, look for these three "Cs" and your experience might just be the richer for it.

1 comments:

The Traveling Mouse November 25, 2009 at 4:52 PM  

It's great, as always, I love to read what you write and I am always inspired!