A duck out of water???

At church this past Sunday morning I was listening to my Pastor preaching his sermon and he said something that really stuck out.  It wasn't directly about his sermon topic, but just came up while speaking.  So naturally I started thinking about it and since my electricity is out due to it storming outside, I decided that I HAD to write a short blog posting...

I personally know a lot of people that feel like they don't need to go to church.  Either they feel like being a good person and saying a prayer every day is good enough.  Or they are just too busy to go to church on their day off...better things to do.

 

I used to believe that I didn't need to go to church to be a good Christian woman.  And I still don't think you HAVE to attend church in order to have Jesus in your heart.

But since I have had this hunger for more of Christ, He has been revealing things that I need to change in my life...

Doesn't it kind of go against who we are as Christians to not go to church?  I mean, if we are trying to be the people that God wants us to be then won't we WANT to be in church trying to grow and seeking after Him?  

My husbands often says, "I'd rather have never heard the name of Jesus, than to be a lukewarm Christian."

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." - Revelations 3:15-16

By purposely not going to church, you are not growing spiritually.  It is almost like an open invitation to allow sin to sneak its way back into your life.  How can that be pleasing God?  We as humans are weak.  We need that regular encouragement and reminders.  We need our "God fix".  

As men and women of God, we were created to serve Him and worship Him.  

Yes, you can watch church on TV and you can listen to worship music at home, but what better place to be than the house of God, to grow and experience His presence?  

"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:20

I've heard people say that they didn't need to go to church because they already know what the Pastor is speaking about and they can study the Bible in the comfort of their own home.  In my opinion, that's a selfish excuse.  We shouldn't go to church for ourselves, but for God...

"People are often motivated toward church attendance for how it will bless themselves, however we should remember that the primary purpose of the corporate gathering is to bring "service" to the Lord as a blessing to Him"  - Dr. Dale A. Robbins

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25

As children of God, we know the times that we are living in and how things are only going to get worse...we know what our future holds, we know what's promised in the Bible.  Why wouldn't we WANT to be in church??  

Now back to the statement that my Pastor made during his sermon...

"If you're a Christian, you will go to church.  

If you're a duck, where will you be?  In the water.

If you're a Christian, you will be in church." - Pastor Clarence Crane

It makes PERFECT sense!  

I found this interesting bit of information on ducks that are kept out of water...

"Ducks are waterfowl. They evolved to eat, swim, play, and clean themselves in water. But on factory farms, they never even see it, except dribbling out of a pipe from which they are to drink.

Without water, ducks are deprived of their natural habitat. Denied this fundamental requirement, they can’t preen properly and find it difficult to keep warm. Without water they may develop eye diseases that can result in blindness."

A duck can survive out of the water, but it isn't pleasant for them. 

"I will declare your name to my people;
   in the assembly I will praise you."- Psalm 22:22