Church Buildings Are For Sinners

 

This copyrighted graphic is on loan from Cynthia I. Maddox

I've known people who decline to attend church for a couple of reasons: 

1) they weren't good enough for the people there; 

2) the people there weren't good enough for them.

In the first instance, the person truly felt that the sin in their life was so bad that God turned their back to them and their life went down hill from there. Which meant they felt God was incapable of loving everyone, even though Jesus said:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:14-17 KJV)

The Bible tells us that God is omnipotent - He knows how bad we are because He knows our history, heart, and our future. "Whosoever" comes from Greek: πᾶς , Strong's defines it as G3956 "pas; including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:—all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), × daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever." No one would be left out. Another verse confirms that:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV)

Where did I learn this? From the Bible, and from attending a church that teaches from the Bible, for:

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV)

That comes from a letter Paul was inspired to write to the church at Corinth, and is good today for Christ's followers. Remember, it was from the Old Testament that Jesus taught, Paul studied:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV)

Paul tells us what to use, and why. He also explained how people are reached:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? (Romans 10:13-15a KJV)

We can't have a good solid preacher until he has been through the steps of being saved: believing, calling on God, being called, becoming a preacher. Those steps are important. The next steps are studying: 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (2 Timothy 2:15-16 KJV)

We have to be careful when we are seeking God. We know He can be found, but how can we tell what is "profane and vain babblings" that we are to shun? Reading the first chapter of 1 Timothy can be helpful in understanding what we should shun. Here, Paul is strengthening Timothy to face those who do change the good news that God has given to mankind from the beginning. Paul was given direction for his life directly from the risen Christ - Acts 9. The trip he was taking to Damascus would have ended in the deaths of Christ's followers. Instead, Paul went to study to be one, which could have cost him his own life.

Like everyone else, Paul had to study. That is why we have church buildings, where people meet and learn how to apply the biblical lessons to our own lives. Where we fellowship with believers, and invite unbelievers to join in and see for themselves what being a Christian is like.

Are their some who will set your mind against being a Christian? Probably. Not all church attendees are dedicated to learning and application. There are people who do so for personal or business reasons. Our best answer is to pray God will send someone who will help open their hearts to him. From the Old Testament to the new, God receives those who come to Him:

Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts. (2 Chronicles 19:7 KJV)

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: (Acts 10:34 KJV)

You have an open invitation to our nearby church, First Baptist Church of Cottondale, but there should be a Bible based church near for you. If not, feel free to join our services 11 am CST Sunday morning, 6 pm Sunday night, and 7 pm Wednesday night. Right now they can be reached through the church's Facebook page, and plans are to reach a streaming audience in the future. 

If you come to the building, please remember individuals there are works in progress, each one at a different spot working toward 2 Timothy 3:17's good works.