Together We Think

I had a conversation recently with a close friend who is bearing such a heavy burden. It broke my heart and made me all the more grateful for the church. No, I’m not talking about a building, but what the building represents…a place for God’s people to gather and care for one another. In many ways, I believe that what my friend’s family is having to go through is partly a result of not being connected to a community of believers and finding the safety, accountability and hope that comes from God, through his people. Many people today say, why do I need to go to church? I can connect to God on my own…mine is a private faith. To that I would say, YOUR WRONG! So here are 9 reasons you should gather with the church:  (borrowed from Ronald Rolheiser’s book, The Holy Longing)

1. It is not good to be alone - to attempt to make spirituality a private affair is to reject part of our very nature. God never intended for us to try and journey through life alone. We will never make it without the help of others
2. To take our rightful places humbly within the family of humanity - around others we must die to our own elitism and own up to the fact that we are broken and in need of help.
3. Because God calls us there - spirituality is not a private search for what is highest in oneself but a communal search for the face of God.
4. To dispel our fantasies about ourselves - in communities the truth about us emerges and we cannot hide our true selves.
5. Because millions of saints have told us so - the tradition that we follow shows us the faithful practice of those who have gone before us who stayed connected and found rest in their community of faith.
6. To help others carry their pathologies and to have help carrying ours - we are all broken and in need of loving support to help us carry what is broken inside of us even as we help others carry their brokenness.
7. To dream with others - what we dream alone remains a dream, but what we dream with others can become a reality.
8. To practice for heaven - we will be with billions of others before God’s throne worshipping together, why not get some practice now?!!!!!!
9. For the pure joy of it - there is something about the presence of others in the presence of God that fills us with an unexplainable joy!

Sounds like the church is a pretty amazing place to be! Don’t you think?!!!!!!