Is the service that a church provides special in any way?

Answer 1

Nope, I don't need to go to some church to compare shoes every Sunday :)

Answer 2

When in Wales in the summer I went to a service at a place called Mwnt. It's the smallest evangelical church in the UK, I found out whilst there. What I think is fantastic is that at the same time all over the UK the same service and worship was taking place. Everyone worshiping the Lord God together even though we were miles apart. Although I am not a member of that particular denomination I really appreciate the fact that all the words they say are teaching tools. Many of the songs are teaching tools. It was lovely to here part of the service in Welsh as well.

There are loads of provisions for the needy and willing in local churches. They also collect and send all over the world, and provide for people. The biggest service they offer is the Word of God. To any that want to hear it. And I suppose it offers some rituals for people who want some sort of flag for parts of their life. I have a marriage flag that happened in Church.

Of course the Church in biblical terms is a body of people in Christ and not a building or organization. So in that way the church is utterly under grace. And of no service apart from in service.

Answer 3

Due to tax-exempt status, some churches are able to provide more for their community members than nonfaith-based organizations.

I no longer have health or dental insurance, so the best deal for me is to go to a free dental and medical clinic periodically at one of the churches. They have several dentists and doctors who volunteer to offer their services for diagnostic and preventive care services.

I make too much to receive Medicaid, and I'm too young to receive Medicare. I am not a mother, so my Welfare and WIC options are limited or non-existent. I get a tremendous amount of resources from Planned Parenthood, but reproductive health only covers one system.

Making it to these periodic preventive and diagnostic clinics at the churches, helps to keep me out of the hospitals for the most part, and allows me to generally keep tally on my physical health. I've had a lot of health problems since I was diagnosed with an AVM (arteriovenous malformation) in the brain when I was 15. I'm quite dependent on whatever health services are offered to me by churches and outreach clinics.

I'm also in the process of working on my Canadian citizenship, so that I can join my family in a country where healthcare is more readily available to people, regardless of their income/insurance status.


As an aside, and getting back to your original question: No, the churches don't provide me anything spiritually that I could not receive elsewhere. And all of their community services would be just as viable from a non-religious organization. It's just that in most cities, you're not so likely to find a large conglomerate of good dentists and doctors willing to volunteer their time and skills for the poor, except in association with a faith-based organization.

Within faith-based organizations, there is currently a dual incentive for service. 1) You're serving your beliefs in helping the less fortunate. 2) You're serving on a tax-exempt/tax-deductible basis.

Doctors and dentists who volunteer their time to faith based organizations can actually charge their hours as tax-deductible income. Or in cases where the organization is exempt, taxes aren't considered anyway.

Answer 4

Many churches provide, in addition to worship services, much-needed assistance to the community. My own church helps operate a homeless shelter, aids in disaster relief, helps people pay their utilities, gives away free food and clothes, works with free medical and dental units, sends assistance to other countries, and much more. Services that lend aid to other human beings, whether religious or secular, are special.

Answer 5

In a christian church the gathering of believers brings the presence of God.The bible promises that where two or more are gathered in the name of Jesus He will be there(in Spirit). Any place can be used for this purpose. Jesus is not interested in visiting buildings but people. People are precious to Him. One soul is worth more than all the wealth of the world. If you haven't surrendered to Him yet, don't put it off. It is the most important thing you will ever do in your life. Call 1-800-759-0700 if you need help

Answer 6

Some denominations, such as Orthodox, Anglican, and Catholic, provide special life rituals deemed as necessary to spiritual life, usually called sacraments. They provide a connection between mortality and eternity in their Eucharist, They honor life events and rites of passage such as baptism, confirmation, marriage, and funeral rites

Answer 7

Depends on the Church you go to. We have many different churches who worship God in different ways. Find the one that works best for you.

Answer 8

CHURCH was never defined as a WORSHIP service. Jesus DID NOT promise to build a CHURCH. Church is derived from CIRCE the holy whore whose "grave" John could see from Patmos. Jesus promised to build an EKKLESIA (Greek) or a SYNAGOGUE (Greek synonym). The Jewish synagogue was a SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE. Women and men baked bread but women were never teachers or synagogue ELDERS.

Because Christendom has defined CHURCH as violating all of the first century FACTS, they then use CULTURE to declare that women may serve in leadership roles.

This will LEAD to more PERFORMANCE ROLES for women to "authorize" the ILLEGAL performance roles ACTED OUT (as rhetoricians, sOPHISts (sorcerers, serpents), singers and musicians). The are all ranks in the SECTARIAN HYPOCRITE tribe condemned by Jesus.

Answer 9

usually the church is very involved with some community project.
feeding the homeless,
sheltering abused women
helping people get home when stranded
consuling

Answer 10

Of course! They provide:
- free food [communion]
- free drinks [holy water & wine]
and
- free entertainment [singing, clapping, etc.]
:)