Why go to church?

[alpharaposa]

There was a story I read a while back that just about sums it up.

A fellow stopped going to church. He said he didn't need it, could worship on his own just fine. His friends and family all tried to get him to come back.

Finally, the pastor went to visit him. The fellow had a fire going in the fireplace. The pastor didn't say much, just went to the fire and used the tongs to pull out a single coal and place it on its own away from the rest.

The coal cooled and died.

The pastor returned it to the rest of the coals, where it brightened and caught fire once again.

The fellow thanked the pastor for his fiery sermon and promised to come to church again the next Sunday.

Who you spend time with affects who you become.

Comments

[stryck.livejournal.com]

There are no other Catholics at your church?

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

Of course, but it's a different experience. This is something that often sends Catholics into the Protestant churches, because the community experience is more prominent.

[stryck.livejournal.com]

Oh, there are cold and even actively hostile churches on the Protestant side, too. That's the reason why I attend the church that I attend, and not the one that's closest to me.

Churches should be places that welcome, nurture, and teach discipleship, no matter the denomination.

[kishiriadgr.livejournal.com]

Very true. Mind you, I'm sort of a "special needs" churchgoer in that I'm not sure I believe, but I keep going to church and reading the Bible anyway.