For years, I worked in my family’s sporting goods store, and I got to know our customers. I remember one in particular telling me, “I don’t need church. I can get closer to God on the lake.”
These words sound good; I know from personal experience just how close to God you can feel when you’re surrounded by His glorious creation. The problem is that getting with God on the lake only gives Him part of what He wants from us, and gives us only part of what He wants us to have. Church attendance is about much more than we see at first glance.
As is true for pretty much everyone, there was a time when it was easy for me to not go to church. The more I learned about walking with God, though, and the importance and value of doing things His way, the harder I worked at getting there.
It was challenging at first. Setting aside my pillow on Sunday morning was as hard for me as setting aside sugar is hard for a diabetic. I did it, though, and have spent decades reaping the rewards. I love church, and don’t want to see anyone miss out.
So I’ve come to answer the question, “Tammy, why do you see church attendance as so important?” It will take a series of posts to get there, and they’ll be my personal answer (as opposed to the learned, theological answers you could read elsewhere online), but it is an answer I’m ready to give. Part 1 is on the way.
Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C