We Must Gather Together!

Good day from the islands. As I was sitting in a Marshallese church one morning preparing to speak I began to think about the church. You see Marshallese are really never on time. When the singing starts there may only be one third of the church there but by the third song everyone is there. They begin to worship and enter into the presence of the Lord. Sweat running down their face but their hands lifted up in praise and worship to the Lord. During the preaching of the Word no matter how long the message they do not move, hanging on every word. Then ministry time comes, praying and ministering to the people and still no one has left. After the service, they gather together breaking bread together and sharing what is going on in their lives. They are truly following the new testament model as shown in Acts 2:42-47. In these verses we see that the church was one, working in unity and daily meeting together. They had all things in common and they took care of each other.
Over time we have seen this change in the church. We went from daily to Sunday and Wednesday. Now many churches have one service on Sunday morning and social gatherings during the week. On top of that those services are timed as to not interfere with the schedules of those who attend. What has caused this trend? Are we obeying the Word of God and following the Holy Spirit? Where is the hunger of the church for the things of God. Why have we made church just another check on our schedule? As I asked myself these questions I began to examine our culture. There are so many ways I could go with this but two areas stood out.
One is the “have it your way” mentality! Our whole culture has become geared to having it our way. Unfortunately this attitude has gotten into the church. Pastors see it all the time with members and other trying to tell them how to run the church. 12 pm comes and those around us begin to grumble that the pastor better not go over time. On top of that if we do not like how it is going we just up and change churches. What happened to the Holy Ghost placing you in a church to be a blessing? Some “members” go as far as boycotting services. If the member does not like the speaker or if the pastor is out of town they just decide to stay home. Is this what pleases the Lord? As members of the body of Christ we should come together to build each other up. We should come prepared to give as much as we are ready to receive. I am not talking about money here. Paul tells us that when we come together we should: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom: teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs , singing with grace in your hearts unto the Lord” Col 3:16.
We come together to make each other stronger, to reinforce foundations, encourage and comfort each other. The sad thing about the “have it your way” attitude is that you only come to get and not to give. Secondly, we want “fast food church”. We want to come in get it and get out on time. The only time we stay longer is when someone special comes in. We want everything in our lives to be compressed into a single moment of time so that we have more time for ourselves. Football season, American Idol, baseball, Nascar, Facebook, just to name a few all compete for our time. The sad thing is, most of us prefer that time over time with the Lord! Have those things become idols in our lives?
Now I am not talking to those who have to get to work, or have something really pressing that they must do. I certainly understand in this day and time that many have to work but what about those that are free on Sunday? This has become a trend in our churches today. The new man coming on staff telling the seasoned pastor, “you know if you want to reach the younger generation you have to do this”. He then begins to name the ways to have a “quick, to the point, timely, efficient service”. Now I am not against progressive tools to share the Gospel. We need to use every tool we have to reach the lost. However the leading of the Holy Ghost has to be number one priority. Pastor Jeff Connor says “what you win them to you will keep them with”. If we began in Pentecost and following the Holy Ghost we had better stay there and not be swayed by opinion polls.
What we are seeing though, is that we are continuing to shorten our time together for the sake of pleasing people! Who are we following, God or the opinion’s of men. Some may be saying right now Brother Steve you are just old fashioned. I am not old fashioned! I am just asking how hungry are you for God? In our desire for having it our way and having it fast we are forsaking not only the Lord but the body of Christ. The Song of Solomon 2:4 says that He has prepared a banqueting table for me and His banner over me is love. We must be careful that we have not turned the banqueting table into a drive through window. Drive through windows do not build relationships. There is nothing intimate about getting it and driving away. We never see the other diners. We cannot let that happen in the body of Christ.
The book of Hebrews tell us:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25
The author is telling us that we should be getting together even more in the last days than ever before. Look around, all of the signs are pointing to the soon return of Jesus! Praise the Lord! To stand strong now the body of Christ needs to come together as one. We should be encouraging one another, comforting one another, and working together to bring in the lost at any cost. I certainly love each and every one of you. Today take time and check your heart. Are you really giving Him your all? Are you a blessing to the body of Christ? Make sure there are no idols keeping you away from the house of God! Be blessed.

Brother Steve