Why Go To Church? Part 1: "Well, Otherwise..."

Recently here in my state of Texas, lawmakers have been debating whether or not to require regular vehicle inspections. Texas is one of 18 states that requires periodic inspections by law. Those on the side of doing away with the inspections claim they are just another example of government overreach and wasted taxpayers monies, a program that is not worth so much for such little gain. Those in favor of keeping the inspection laws relate instances where they came across cars that were in incredibly poor shape and never should have been on the road...and yet had baby carriers in the back seat.

     In other words, babies were being transported in unsafe (in some cases, extremely unsafe) vehicles, and it is clear that these unsafe conditions would almost certainly have gone unnoticed and unaddressed had it not been for the required vehicle inspection. To me that is at least reason to pause and consider, before recalling these inspections.

     All that to say...when left to our own devices, many times we tend to think a bit too highly of our own self-care initiatives. Most never intend to let their car tires get so bald, their oil so old, and their coolant so low that it presents a hazard to their own children. They really don't. But that's exactly one of the motives for the required annual inspection- they step in where good motives have failed to act. "It's a good thing we have these inspections, otherwise..."

     The world of the "otherwise," the world of how things would be without certain boundaries and guidelines and mandatory items, can be a scary one filled with dangers, unsafe cars as least of them.

     Especially when it comes to our spiritual life.

     This past Sunday morning, as we sang and prayed and learned and remembered together as a congregation, I was struck by how so much of what I was participating in was not "natural" or "ordinary." The words I sang to God, about my reliance on Him and His power and majesty and my need for His daily grace...the communion that took me to the cross, to His pain and suffering and love...the prayers that brought to mind the hurts and struggles of others, as well as our daily blessings as God's people...the sermon that pointed me to Psalm 23 and caused me to deeply reflect on my own relationship with the Good Shepherd...all of these elements had one great thing in common: they were not things I would normally do, participate in, think, or reflect upon if left to my own devices on a Sunday morning...or any morning, for that matter!

The elements of congregational worship have one great element in common: they are things I would not normally do or reflect upon if left to my own devices. More than that, they are are achieved at a level not possible in solitude; they are, by their very nature, communal acts.

     Oh sure, I could easily claim that I would think about those things at some point that week...but were it not for dedicated time Sunday morning (every Sunday morning!), it would be easy to let things get in the way (even good things) to where I would put it off a week, or two weeks, or eventually indefinitely. Or, even if I did take time to do those things, it would be me leading myself- I would miss the insights of others, nor would I take time to think of anything that really made me uncomfortable or cause me to see a need to change (it really does take the words of another to prick us...most of us do not prick ourselves).

     The church, and what it accomplishes in us and through us when we meet together regularly, is no accident. It is intentional...by God's own design. Each week, by regularly planned meetings, we are forced outside of ourselves to take notice of the cross, of others, and the needs of the world.

     It's a good thing we have the church, otherwise...