One of the battles that many parents face with older children is about going to church on Sundays. I remember as a teen it was a source of internal conflict for me. I wanted to sleep in, but I also felt a tug to attend church. I don’t remember exactly how many times the spirit won out over the flesh, but I do know that forcing myself to make it a habit, over time, made it something I really enjoyed and looked forward to each week. During those years of attending church from an internal drive was a pretty self centered stage of my life, in that I never once thought to ask the question, “How can I help out or contribute?” It was just me going and taking and using it. I do believe that that is certainly an appropriate way to be at certain times in our lives. For example, it would be silly to say that an ill patient lying in a hospital bed is being selfish because they are there trying to take care of their own needs. There is a time when we need to focus on our own recovery so that we have a sound mind and a sound body with which to be of service to others. And in time, hopefully, that patient, when made well, will say, “I appreciate how this hospital has helped me get well. How can I put my time, energy or resources into helping others who are ill to get well?”
As a church community we are pretty hands off when it comes to whether people attend church or not. We don’t have any mechanisms that will reward or punish people for attending or not attending church. We do feel that is something that an individual has to freely decide to do on his or her own. Compelling people to worship is never a good thing. However, we wouldn’t be very kind if we didn’t encourage or invite others to attend church because we know that there are many benefits. Certainly being an involved member of a church community helps on many levels. It can help satisfy our emotional and relational needs. It can help us to feel loved, accepted, that we are part of something important, it can boost our self esteem and sense of self worth. Of course, if the church community is self centered and the messages are more depressing then encouraging the reverse could be true. It can help us to gain insight and clarity into our daily external and spiritual struggles, give us direction on parenting, dating, marriage, business ethics, and more.
The Lord tells us that there are benefits that we are unaware of too. There are insights into heavenly things and states of holiness that are stored up from external worship that will be with us forever. It is like we are filling our spiritual bank account with a lot of good emotions and insights that we will be able to draw on forever (see Heavenly Secrets 1618).
Another use of attending worship on a regular basis is that it helps the church to be more effective in reaching people who are searching for the truth and a loving church community. When you are there you boost the energy of the service with your singing, your personal atmosphere, the questions you ask, the prayer requests you offer, the insights you share during the discussion time, and your friendly face–all this will positively effect others who are there. When more people worship together there is strength in that coming together before the Lord and seeking His love and wisdom together. Your presence is also helpful in talking with people who may be visiting the church on that day for the first, second or third time. It takes all kinds of people to connect with the variety of people who visit the church. A picture puzzle is not complete or as satisfying if some of the pieces are missing. Each one of us is an important part of that picture and have something valuable to contribute. In other words it enriches our own lives and the lives of others.
I pray that you may make it a habit in your life to attend worship, be it here or elsewhere. You have so much so gain spiritually and emotionally, and so much to give. Don’t miss out!
