Weekly Worship: Part of the "Privilege of Belonging"

Rev. Larry Peters, senior pastor of Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation in Tennessee, reminds believers that Christianity is not worship-optional:

The first job of members is to go to Church.  Barring death or illness unto death, members are in Church on Sunday morning.  Barring work during the worship hour or another obligation which we cannot avoid, we are there each Sunday morning.  We do not wake up on Sunday morning and see how we feel.  We do not ask our kids if they want to go to Church.  We do not wait for a Sunday when we feel right, when we feel good, when the weather is halfway decent (but not too good to distract us by other things)...  We do not let perceived or real slights from other members or a problem with the Pastor or somebody else on staff to keep us from the place where Christ is -- in His Word and Sacrament.  We do not look to see what else we might be doing if we did not go to Church nor do we plan things for Sunday morning...

Nobody in Seminary taught me this.  I learned this from my parents.  (And my parents are not "professional church workers" - whatever that category means).  They were faithful people who knew that come hell or high water, death or dismemberment, disaster or disability, Christians went to Church on Sunday morning and Lutheran Christians even more so...

So if you are listening, go to Church.  Get up and go.  Sunday morning cannot be replaced by two minutes of prayer and a quick trip to the convenience store to pick up the Sunday paper.  Come on.  You know that Christians ought to be in Church on Sunday morning.  Period.  This is not for me or for your Pastor, but for the Lord.  This is not a human rule but the privilege of belonging.  This is no extra law placed upon us but the very practice that flows from our baptismal identity and our confession of faith...

If you're a Christian, worship God with your fellow Christians every week! It's simply part of who you are as a baptized, believing follower of Jesus Christ! (Read Pastor Peters' entire blog post here.)

God Will NOT Abandon Those Who Want Him More Than Anything Else!

In this time when the Church itself often appears to be set against God, God's Word, and God's will, those who seek to live the life style of daily repentance and renewal to which Jesus Christ calls us, can take encouragement from Psalm 127:

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
²
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall.
³
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
⁴
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
⁵
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock.
⁶
Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
⁷
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!
⁸
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!” Your face, Lord, do I seek.
⁹
Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger, you who have been my help.

Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!
¹⁰
If my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up.
¹¹
Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
¹²
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, and they are breathing out violence.
¹³
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
¹⁴
Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! 

Psalm 127 is the scriptural basis for this fantastic piece by Philip Yancey.

Worshiping by the Lives We Lead

These words come from the daily emailed inspiration sent out by my friend and colleague, Pastor Glen VanderKloot, Faith Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois:

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

 A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Live Christ's life in your action.
Don't just go to worship.
Live the worship in everything you do.
Don't just partake of communion.
Be the Body of Christ in every action that you take.
Don't just observe the baptism.
Live the death and resurrection in your work, in your planning.
Don't just read the words.
Be the Word!
Let the Word become flesh and dwell among and in and through you.

    (Eric Law  "Sacred Acts, Holy Change"  p. 5)

Scripture: 
Colossians 3:16   New International Version
           
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach
and admonish one another with all wisdom,
and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to embody the Gospel,
not just think about or talk about it.  Amen
   
*************************************************