You brought up some good talking points:
When you go to a seminar, you usually have to pay to attend. When you go to a concert, you usually have to pay to attend. When you go to social events, you usually have to pay to attend.
But the religionist will counter with comments such as, "WE don't charge to attend our services."
Where it's true that some preachers don't hammer on the tithe requirement, many do, and doing so is most generally based upon the tactic of guilt, similar to feeling guilty after having successfully sneaked into an event without paying where payment was required. I don't see the difference.
Why does one "go to" church?
Nobody "goes to"
church. How do we
go to what we are?
Maybe for the following reasons:
1. For instruction / education in God's Word
...which can take place almost anywhere.
...except that MOST people have not one clue what TRUE worship encompasses.
The concept so many people harbor that basically includes the assumption that one can
turn on TRUE worship (that which is acceptable before the Father) as they would a light switch simply by walking into a so-called
sanctuary, participating in the sing-along, praying, stand-up-sit-down-fight-fight-fight, well, all that completely misses the biblical rendition of TRUE worship.
In other words, when worship isn't LIVED throughout the week, it certainly isn't going to suddenly activate because of proximity to a religious
service.
3. For prayer and/or to pray
Which should never have a beginning or end, therefore already taking place before entering the clubhouse.
4. For entertainment (the music, etc.)
...in addition to all the other entertainments throughout the week...
5. For fellowship / socializing
Socializing does indeed take place, but not necessarily fellowship. How does one fellowship with the backs of other people's heads?
WE go to church so that WE can get instruction and education in God's Word,
What I wonder is, at what point does one finally reach a maturation point where they're able to fly on their own? Why have we allowed the
perpetual sheepdom syndrome to become so deeply set into practice and the psyche of the believing community?
so that WE can worship The Lord,
This one deals with what I have said already in this post: Worshipping the Lord should be a never-ending way of life for believers. The word of God never commands what is called
corporate worship, although we have the freedom to go through the motions of such, with everyone on their knees in unison.
Oops. That doesn't happen, does it? Most don't want to dirty the knees of their funny costumes. Some are so intellectual that any expression of spiritual life is looked upon with humorous indifference.
so that WE can participate in prayer,
...another reality that should never end. When Jesus prayed, He went off alone, and instructed such to us.
Matt 6:6 But thou,
when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
I realize that isn't to be taken literally, but...
Most assume that when the NT believers prayed coporately, for example, when Peter was in prison, they were all together in the same room, right? Therefore they had to be praying out loud for the others to hear the prayers of the other...right?
I often marvel when so many, so easily, without reservation, force scripture into conformity to the framework of modern dogmas, traditions and practices, as if they all came from scripture.
WE benefit from going to church services. When WE give our offerings, is it not to PAY for what WE have received from the service?
Religious productions do cost money, and those who take in such things should pay for them as they do the R and PG-13 rated movies they support with their money.
To believe there is such a thing as
spiritual productions is to believe in an oxymoron.
Is that giving to God, or is that paying for a service WE have received?
Foolishly, MOST believe it's giving to God. I still haven't figured that one out.
Ooooh. But we're bound to hear about the token outreaches that originate from a very small percentage of what's taken in from the
tithes and
offerings. If a prostitute hands over a small percentage of her intake from services rendered, I don't see that the services she rendered automatically become sanctified. Imagine that.
I am all for PAYING the preacher for his services. And when I attend services, I want to be cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and I am willing to help PAY for the building and utilities. Common sense tells me I am paying for what I am benefiting from, and if I pay more than my share, I make it possible for others to attend who cannot afford to pay their share.
Except, for most, that which is handed over to the organization is either all or most of what they have available for meeting genuine needs, which translates over into the realm of robbing God.
When genuine needs go unmet because of what is routinely handed over to religious organizations, Jesus included THAT into what He said when stating:
Matt 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
But my true GIVING is when I give directly to those in need.
Amen.
The modern-day corporate church organization is run like a business, AND makes church goers believe they should be attending church services every Sunday throughout their life. NOT WHAT THE BIBLE TEACHES.
Amen.
Good stuff to talk about.
BTW
okaaay..that was a b, not bad...
