Why visit the church building?
By dee777
@dee777 (1417)
South Africa
January 24, 2013 3:54am CST
People have their own reasons for doing the things they do.
1. Sometimes people choose to visit the church building Christmas morning, or Easter. Why do they do that if they are not prepared to do regular visits to the church building?
2. Sometimes people dont want other to think 'bad' of them, so they visit the church building every Sunday. Why?
Do we sometimes do things to impress people... do we sometimes forget that we cannot impress God for He knows our motives?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@allknowing (137752)
• India
24 Jan 13
Society has a lot to do with that. If they see someone not fulfilling religious obligations they are sized up and even sometimes ostracised. It takes guts to liberate oneself from these beliefs. If one is not dependent on society for their survival,then it becomes easy.
@allknowing (137752)
• India
24 Jan 13
All that matters is someone goes to church. If you do not go to church you are assessed and judged and that ofcourse in places where everyone knows what is going on in every one's life.
And then there is another factor which I did not cover. Religion is the opium of the masses and not going to church will eat into their system and they will have sleepless nights. Does not matter how wicked they really are!
@randomarts09 (1405)
• Indonesia
29 Jan 13
Some of people go to church on Sunday out of ceremony or habit or maybe if it's children, they are scared that their parents will scold them when they don't want to go to church. Sometimes like you're saying they try to impress people by going to church. Maybe because we can't see God directly like with people who are seen, so people tend to forget the actual purpose behind it.
@41CombedaleRoad (5954)
• Greece
9 Feb 13
I was sent to Sunday School as a child and I can remember protesting loudly about it. When I reached mid teens I was ready to leave, I had had enough and learned nothing except that my parents wanted me out of the house for an hour every Sunday afternoon. Then a new minister arrived and he told me about Jesus, he told me I needed to ask Him into my life. He was great with teenagers and was always available to answer my questions. I began enjoying Sunday School and especially the youth club he started.
Eventually our discussions led to met to believe and to ask Jesus into my life and going to church is now one of my joys. My purpose in going to church is to worship with other likeminded people and enjoy their friendship. As you say, we cannot see God directly, but as we practise prayer, both speaking and listening to Him we do learn to know when He is speaking directly to us and that can happen anywhere not just in a church building.
@41CombedaleRoad (5954)
• Greece
29 Dec 15
@dee777 Jesus said that just as sheep know the shepherd's voice so we get to know His. I find that very encouraging. Of course that does not mean that it will become audible to us, although some claim they have heard his voice. Personally I never have, but I can tell the difference between the voice in my head that is mine and the one that is the Holy Spirit of Jesus.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
25 Jan 13
I think in the first case, they go because it's tradition. Christmas and Easter are "religious" holidays, so people go to be identified with a religion.
The second case can be the same. People go there to be identified with Christians, whether they really know God or not. Others, of course, go because they think they can find God there, not knowing that He is everywhere.
There is something to be said about worshiping God in a congregation (a gathering), but going into a church building isn't required even for that.
And lastly, yes, I'm sure we all do things to impress others, no matter how honest we try to be before God. He knows us better than we know ourselves. I'm glad He understands our weaknesses because quite often, we don't even know we have them.
@dee777 (1417)
• South Africa
25 Jan 13
Thank you peavey - you explained it so well. It makes me think now too... when non-believers visit the church building out of curiosity, or to please someone, it's actually ok. They might even meet Jesus there!
Yes, He knows our weaknesses, and He is still so gracious to us all. God is awesome.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
25 Jan 13
I think that some people are not that aware of their actions. They think that since they were able to pass by the church that it means that it s equivalent to actually
attending the mass. But you are true when you said that some people would go to church just to let people know that they do have time to visit the church.
I know some people who never fails to go to Church to hear mass on Sundays. But right after the mass, you would hear them cursing other people. What was the use of going to the church if you never live by the words of God?
@gabzreal (136)
• Philippines
1 Mar 13
there are lots of reasons why people visits the church building..some will attend mass, some are tourist who wants to take pictures,some visits to pray, make reconciliation, some make it a dating place..or meeting place,or making a reflection..God know your motives why you are visiting the church...early Christians gathers in catacombs or burial place avoiding persecution..and now they have the church building, and they no longer hide in catacombs..
@Raine38 (12391)
• United States
24 Jan 13
I believe that wherever we are, we can always pray to God, worship Him and give thanks for everything that He has blessed us with. But going to the church is another way of going the extra mile to profess our faith and to show respect to Him. Mass in churches (for Catholics like me, at least) take only about one hour out of all the time we have for the whole week. It's just an hour, we can at least give that to God.
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
24 Jan 13
Whenever possible, i go inside a church. It is my belief that in there, as it is believed to be a house of God ( though, i know God is everywhere) , i find solace in simply just kneeling and talking to him, about any concern which i would like to bring up with Him.
After that i can feel peace in my heart.
@dee777 (1417)
• South Africa
24 Jan 13
God is indeed everywhere... I see it that the building, is only a building where we can come together to worship Him. Yes, we can also decorate it lovely and it can bring about a sense of calm and peace. God dwells in the hearts of those who believe in Him, therefore we can also kneel down anywhere and talk to Him.... I also like talking to Him while I am cleaning the house, washing dishes...
