Why  Church?Why church?   In the world of our day I ask this question, “why church?”   Has church not lost its value and worth?   “The church is the place of the greatest joys and the deepest sorrows” were words a friend of mine instructed his son.  Many have experienced this truth through the church.   

Some would say that church is a man made idea that has become outgrown. Yet, when we drive by a church we are often left to wonder, “What is it like in there?  What are the people who attend there ‘really like’?  Would they accept me and welcome me in, as if I were one of their own?  Would anyone care enough to get to know me by name?  Why church?   The church is a promise from God through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Matthew 16:18b … “and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  I read an interesting quote this week that said, “A promise made is a debt unpaid,” thus the promise of Jesus Christ is a debt that is still unpaid as the church continues to be built in the world.   The church in China is at around 130 million people and growing at a rate of 12 – 15 million a year – stats from Ron Pearce of Empower Ministries International.  The Chinese are learning that the church is not outdated or outmoded; it is in fact filling a deep longing in their hearts.  The church has remained throughout the last 2000 years despite of all the opposition and ups and downs and is thriving. The word “church” that is used means a group of people who have been called together.           

Why church?  God’s intention has never been meant to be just a building.  If you were to ask: where Mission Heights Community church is? Some would say on 84 Ave. and Mission Heights Drive but that is the location of the building; the church is made up of all the people who attend and they come from all over Grande Prairie County.   A number of years ago the television sit-com “Cheers” had a great theme song containing these words, “You want to be where everybody knows your name.”  The words of that theme song could best summarize what many of us would like to see when we come to church           

Why church?  God’s intention was that church should be a place of family and a place where we celebrate that we’re members of one body, Christ’s body.   Church is to be the place where we learn about what God is really like and what is at the very heart of God.   It is to be a place of warmth, welcome and where we are wanted.   The sad fact about the church is that it is made up of imperfect people who have been saved by grace but are struggling through this world.   Every member brings their past and present with them when they met together plus their hopes and goals for the future.   We come with our frail humanity where we have good days and bad days. We come at times when we lift up and encourage one another and other times when we discourage and drag others down with us.           

Some of the questions that we often ask ourselves when we enter into a new church as we look around are:  “Is there anyone here like me?   Do they have noisy children, too?  Will they accept me?  Will they take the time to learn my name?”  “Will anyone accept me into their circle of friends?”   How awkward it is for us to walk into a new place for the first time!  Christ intended for His church to become like Him and He is a friend of sinners.  The Bible is the book where we learn what Jesus was like and the place where learn what the church was meant to be.           

Why church?  It is where you can meet with God for the first time or the five hundredth time.  It is where you can find out how to be encouraged when you are discouraged.  It is where you can you can find out about life after this life.  It is a place where you learn that the mortality rate is the same for everyone, “One per person.”   It is a place where you can learn about hope when life seems hopeless.  It is place where you can find out about hope for living and hope for dying. 

Why church?  Because in the ‘End’ we all need it.  It is an imperfect place filled with imperfect people but it is what God has chosen to build in this world; not the buildings but the people.  Check out one in our city this weekend!

Pastor Dwight