Why we meet
Posted by Adam Desmond on February 7, 2010
We say a congregational affirmation each week in our church, usually after the first couple of songs but before we’re through singing and before the sermon:
Leader: Is the Father with us?
All: He is.
Leader: Is Christ with us?
All: He is.
Leader: Is the Spirit here?
All: He is.
Leader: This is our God!
All: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Leader: We are His people!
All: We are the redeemed.
All: We praise You Lord God and bless Your Holy Name.
I really love this affirmation, because it reminds me of why we come together on Sunday. Not to learn or encourage others. These are good things, but they must flow out of the true reason we come together: to meet with our God.
But when we aren’t intentional about why we’re at church, it usually becomes something else entirely. This is a big reason why I think so many people have trouble hearing from God at church and don’t really look forward to it. It isn’t God’s fault or that He isn’t there, ready and willing to meet us. When we’re honest, we have another agenda, and that isn’t to say our agenda is bad, just not God’s. We may be coming to church to honor someone else, or because someone is counting on us, or because we think we should, or because worship makes us feel better, or even because we truly want to minister to someone in need. But this isn’t why we meet. None of these things, in and of themselves, are the goal. They may occur, and even allow us to accomplish the goal. But they can only ever be means to an end.
The real danger comes when we aren’t aware of our goal. Jesus told us that the Pharisees, when they prayed loudly and publicly, received their reward. Not that their actions were fruitless, but that their goal was not to communicate with God, but to appear pious and holy and receive the praise and honor of men. The Pharisees accomplished this goal. Yet, when compared to what they could receive by doing the same thing in a different way with a different goal, what they accomplished seems so inferior. Now, my goal here is not to bash the Pharisees. I believe some of them (Nicodemas comes to mind) were genuine in their faith. They wanted to serve God and His people. They were simply blind to God’s true goal for them.
I’m so guilty of this. Many times I come to church out of obligation. And even in those times, I do receive a reward. But it isn’t what God wants for me. When I come expecting to simply meet with God, I do. And that will always be superior to coming because we have to perform a task, or even because we want to perform a task.
Our banner verse calls us to come. Without other goals or agendas, without skills or knowledge, without holiness or piety. Simply come and listen. And sometimes we come with these things and not even know it. So we must be intentional when we meet. Seek out the things we unknowingly come with, the things we normally cling to. Let’s drop our pretense, conscious or unconscious, and simply meet with God.
Please contact me with questions, concerns or comments:
