For people who go to church..? I just read this book and I found it really touching but...?

Question

..some of the stuff got me thinking.. The name of the book is 'Hello Mister God, This is Anna' and here is a bit of the book:
The whole business of adults going to church filled Anna with suspicion. The idea of collective worship went against her idea of private conversations with Mister God. As for going to church to meet Mister God, that was preposterous. After all, if Mister God wasn't everywhere, he wasn't anywhere. For her, the church-going and 'Mister God' talks had no necessary connection. For her the whole thing was transparently simple. You went to church to get the message when you were very little. Once you had got it, you went out and did something about it. Keeping on going to church was because you hadn't got the message, or didn't understand it, or it was 'just for swank.'
So then, why do people go to church? If you already believe and love and you take the time to pray at home, isn't that enough? And like Anna said, if God isn't everywhere, then he isn't anywhere right?

Answer 1

The problem with Annas thinking is this. the new testament clearly makes the point that knowing God is not simply an individual thing, it is also a corporate thing. In fact, if there is no corporate experience, it is not likely to be authentic. This does not imply that it has to be a traditional church assembly that is so popular, a home church or simple church scenario is certainly legitimate. The idea is to gather together for mutual edification. This is impossible in isolation from other believers. we are many members of one body, a body functions best when it is not lacking any of its members. You need other people and they need you. As a Christian you have something to offer the rest of the body of Christ and you would be remiss in this if you didn't meet with Christians in one form or another. The "I'll go it alone" attitude is lacking in wisdom and will hinder Christian growth. The bible makes it clear we are to encourage one another in our faith, again this is something that is not possible in isolation from other believers. Also, you will not be able to be encouraged. The new testament is replete with language that describes believers as among other things, family. True family interact with each other in an intimate way.

Answer 2

I don’t think the author quite understands the purpose of church. We go to fellowship with outer believers, to join in prayer and worship and to gain new opportunities to reach out and love and support those in need both in the church and in the community. If you are lucky enough to have a pastor like mine, you will always learn something new and walk away truly feeling inspired.

I pray in private and I pray in church. Both are important to me.

Also, I’m not too crazy about humanizing God, as in Mister God, bringing him down to the level of mortals. He is far beyond anything we can comprehend, as you come to know every time you feel his love.

Answer 3

Where ever two or three of you are gathered, I am there.
If you were told a great and complicated truth, a better way to live your life, would you just need to be told once and be done with it?
Prayer (which is essentially what Church is) should be done in a number of ways (e.g., both individually and corporately).
BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT.
We go to Church not for the sermon (although enlightening), not for the fellowship (although amusing), but for the Blood and Body of Christ.
He commands us to internalize Him -- in more ways than one.

Answer 4

We go to church not just to come to know God. We go to church to fellowship with other believers, so that we can grow in our faith. No going to church is not because you have missed something of the message- it is because you received Grace from God through Jesus and you want to worship together, and encouraging them and be encouraged yourself as you follow Christ.

Answer 5

Anna is right God is everywhere. But so is sin and evil. Anna needs to know that as we get older we adults get forgetful and we go to church to be reminded. That doesn't mean we don't pray anywhere and everywhere, or that we don't go out and do as we are taught. It means that going to church helps us to keep our "inner compass" set on God.

Answer 6

You have to remember that we all need to fellowship. It talks about fellowship in the bible:

Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16


We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. Psalm 55:14

As Christians, we must encourage one another. We must learn God's Word together and hold each other accountable for our actions. No one can do it alone. You can read just as much as you want and you can pray and have a good relationship with God. But, it is important to have fellowship with other Christians to help us to grow in God's Word.

Answer 7

Fellowship and to continue getting the Word, being taught. We are to be doers of the Word, not "hearers" only. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" Heb 11:1

" And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Rom 12:2

Answer 8

People go to church to fellowship and socialize among those that think alike in that area of knowledge.
Some go out of habit.
Others go for the entertainment.

Answer 9

Very interesting. But God wants us to go to church to fellowship with other Christians and to continue to grow and learn as Christians. Just like when your young, you go to school to learn...not just things in books but through life experiences and interacting with others. Praying and doing devotions at home is great and you should do it. But a good church is a great place too. It says wherever two or more are gathered in His name he will be there. If nothing else, after a good service you feel better. You feel closer to God and other Christians.

Answer 10

I'm not sure what you're trying to bring out. It's okay to worship God no matter where you are -- at home, in church, or even in a bar. God is everywhere, and foremost in your heart if you let him in.