King David was called a “man after God’s own heart.” Wouldn’t it be great for God to think of you and me that way?
David had absolute faith in God (1 Samuel 17:37); he loved his law – the Word of God (Psalm 119:47-48); he was truly thankful (Psalm 26:6-7); and he was truly repentant (2 Samuel 12:13).* Are you like David in any of these things? Even a little?
Well, how about this…how often do you go to church? Do you even have the desire?
David did.
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. – Psalm 122:1
Sadly, so many of you have fallen into this line of thinking that argues going to a building to worship is an unbiblical, modern construct – the early church just met in their homes and read scripture, sang, and ate pizza (or the equivalent). Is that how David would have thought?
Are you anything like David?
*Source: GotQuestions.Org
The Recovering Legalist 
Hi Anthony,
I try to go to church. I find in the Pentecostal church service that control has become paramount. The prophetic voice is being quashed. Pastors and other leaders push their agendas and ideas. Most of these agendas focus on bringing more people into the church or programs to fix our broken selves as saints of God. It gets tiring and the lives of the saints are not being greatly influenced to godliness by church leaders. I think there are serious problems in the church as we know it in North America.
We understand that the building is not the temple of God. The building is not sacred, God’s people are, yet the building has become the primary focus of today’s church system.
You are correct on several levels. However, because of our “problems” many are blaming the “coming together.” How we may abuse the “system” shouldn’t change the fact that congregating IS a thing we should do.
Psalm 111:1 – Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with [my] whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and [in] the congregation.
I cannot speak from authority for the Pentecostal church leadership or system, but I do know of some who have had their salaries attached to attendance and offerings – we Baptists don’t do that as a general rule (we are autonomous, so one particular congregation may if they choose).
In reply Anthony, for those leaders who do abuse the system, and there are many, they would need to change the way they do things. I don’t see this happening without a force of change or a refusal of the believers to attend such a church. If we attend the church we perpetuate the abuse.
Reblogged this on A Mom Looking Up.
Thanks, Marcia 🙂
I love being at church, especially when I focus on worshipping God and try not to judge other people (I tend to be very judgmental). I love our church because we have solid Bible teaching nearly every week, and everyone is encouraged to contribute and participate with Bible readings, prayer etc. We are not pressured to give, and there are no expensive salaries or building programs. It is as close as I have seen to the NT model, except that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not used very much.