A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend who told me she used to go to Sunday School as a child, but hadn’t been to Church, except for christenings, weddings and funerals for many years. “Why do you go?” she asked me. “After all, you don’t have to go to Church to be a Christian”, she added. This question set me thinking. Firstly, what makes someone a Christian? and secondly, what does going to Church have to do with it? To answer the first question, I believe someone who has given their life to Christ can dare to call themselves a Christian. When Jesus ascended to His Father, he promised His followers that they would receive the Holy Spirit, who would teach them all things. So yes, I dare to claim to be a Christian. I gave my life to God 58 years ago and I truly believe that in those 58 years the Holy Spirit has helped, guided and comforted me. As to why I go to Church, there are many reasons. I go to praise God in the singing of well loved hymns and new songs, I go to listen to, and learn from the word of God in the Bible readings, I go to receive God’s message from the sermon, and to ask Him in prayer to forgive me for the things I’ve done which are wrong and to ask for His strength and guidance for the future. I go to pray for situations and individuals in need and I go to thank God for His love and care in my life. Lastly, I go to meet with other Christians in the fellowship of the Church so we can all care for and help each other and receive encouragement from each other week by week.

 

I don’t know whether my answers helped my friend. I hope they did, but the question certainly made me think and re-assess my motives and reasons for going to Church. One last thought: being a member of a Church fellowship can be, and is fun. Why don’t you try it sometime if you don’t already attend a Church regularly?

 

By Liz Exley, Representing Churches Together in Dewsbury. 

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