Why Church, Why Now?

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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 10:24-25

I saw something earlier today that said, "Church isn't about you, it's about God!" Au contraire! We have totally skewed the purpose of the local church service to the point where it's virtually worthless much of the time. And we did it by simply misunderstanding the basic purpose of our gathering. We don't gather for worship. Yep, you can read it again, that's what I said. Church is not about worshipping God. Remember what Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well? He told her that worship would not be done in Jerusalem (at the Temple) or on Mount Gerizim (where the outcast Samaritans worshipped), but in "spirit and in truth." Worship is NOT a corporate event, folks! Worship is a personal, private thing that occurs within when our spirit communes with God's. It can happen anywhere, but it cannot be done through a ritual or religious service. So, no, church is not about worshipping God. It is about...wait for it...US! This passage in Hebrews tells us the purpose of our gathering: exhoratation. Encouragement. Fellowship. Association with others of like minds and goals to push and prod and pull one another along the Christian walk. We need that. And God knew we would, so He ordained this assembling together of His children so that we wouldn't have to try to make it on our own. He didn't design it for Himself--He's with us always. He did it for us.