Pastor's Column What’s this church thing all about?
What’s this church thing all about? Why go?
If you didn’t grow up in a religious family or if you’ve never been to church, you might wonder, What’s it all about? Why do some people go?”
Some might think people must be going for the music or for a pep-talk from a motivational speaker. Others might think, maybe it’s to hang out with friends or enjoy community. Now, I don’t deny that some people may go to church for these reasons, but these things aren’t the real reason God wants us to go to church.
God in his Word commands, “Remember the Sabbath day by setting it apart as holy.” (Exodus 20:8) He commands people to regularly, weekly, set aside time to worship him and to hear his word. But for Christians, they go to church not simply because God commands people to worship him and hear his word, but especially because of what happens there. Church is a place where Christians gather to praise and thank God for all of the wonderful things he has done for them. Church is also a place where they can gather together to offer prayers to God asking his help for some many things. But church is especially the place where God wants Christians to gather so that he might comfort them with his forgiveness. Church isn’t the place for perfect people to come and congratulate themselves on how good they are, but a place for broken, distressed, guilt-ridden people to find comfort.
In the Lutheran church, we have the practice of beginning our services with the confession of sin. A big reason we do this is to admit to God our sin and unworthiness, but also so that we can receive comfort from the pastor of God’s forgiveness.
In the readings and sermon, we aren’t reminded so much of the sins of the people in the world, but the sins of the people in the pew. The pastor reminds us how even despite our best attempts, we fail to do perfectly what God commands. But the pastor most importantly comforts the people that God has forgiven their sins in Jesus. Because of Jesus, they have peace with God and know that heaven is theirs. We also celebrated a special meal called the Lord Supper, where we receive in a special way the assurance of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
So why do Christians go to church? To summarize, I'd say "comfort”. They go to be comforted that because of Jesus, their sins are forgiven and they have the sure hope of heaven.
I’ll close with Jesus’ own invitation from Matthew 11:28-29, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Church is the place where we come and receive the comfort and rest Jesus’ promises. Amen.
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