Resurrection Sunday
On March 31st a significant number of people will attend services at a local building which is called a Church. It will be the first time they have been there this year – perhaps it will be the first time since last year when they went to the same service in 2012.
Two things – First, the building is not a Church. It is a building. That may sound unimportant or even “picky,” but we must come to understand the the Church is a congregation of Believers, locally and Worldwide. It is people who make-up the Church, not buildings. It is people who have been redeemed by the sacrifice of God’s suffering Servant, Jesus Christ when He died on a cross outside the city of Jerusalem some 2000+ years ago. Those who are not redeemed are not the Church, rather, they are “wanna be’s,” or “hangers-on,” or people who have yet to understand the true message of the Gospel.
Second, This Sunday (March 31 in this case) is no different from any other Sunday. The people of God (here called the Redeemed) celebrate the resurrection of the Lord, at the gathering, every Sunday of the year. That is what Worship is all about. Worship is an intimate encounter with the living Lord of Heaven and Earth which may take place at any time, but is especially important when people gather together on the Lord’s Day (Sunday) to Worship, minister, care for, support, encourage, and llove one another. It is also a time when God’s revealed Word is opened and proclaimed with power and authority. Usually, beautiful music, prayer, and the call to good works is a part of the time spent together.
How sad it is that so many people, even those who claim to be Believers, fail to understand the importance of regular, committed, supportive, active involvement in the life of the Church (which meets in the building), which, by the way, is commanded by our Lord God.
If you are one of those who have yet to understand the Truth, or if you have slipped away from the consistency demanded by “new life” in Christ, make this Sunday the beginning of a new commitment to faithfulness, perseverance, hope, joy, and llove, with and through that congregation of Believers near you.