David Anguish
We don't hear as much today about a distinction some of us remember from childhood. In order to stress the nature of the church as God's people, not a building or organization, many of us were taught to not speak of "going to church." As God's people, the church exists wherever we are - on Monday afternoon or Thursday morning as well as Sunday morning. Since this is so, it is technically incorrect to say that we are "going to church." To be more precise, we should say that we are "going to worship."
We would do well to revive this emphasis. We don't say this because we think the words "going to church" are in no sense biblical. In the New Testament, the word ekklesia, "church," is used occasionally to refer to the church's assembly, essentially what most of us mean when we speak of "going to church" (1 Corinthians 14:19, 28, 34-35).
But, even though we may understand this, there is a by-product which comes from saying that we are "going to church" which can adversely affect what happens when we gather. Faced with our world's insistence on a sharp division between the sacred and secular, it is easy to have a spirit which separates "going to church" from our daily walk with God in a way which hurts our time of focused praise.
We say this in light of some verses in Leviticus which emphasize what it means to fear or revere God. "You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revered your God; I am the Lord" (19;14, NASB). "You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged,and you shall revere your God; I am the Lord" (19:32). "So you shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God" (25:17). "Do not take usurious interest from him, but revere your God, that your countryman may live with you (25:36). "You shall not rule over him [a countryman who had become destitute] with severity, but are to revere your God" (25:43). In each case, reverence for the Lord is spoken of in terms of daily sacrifice, in essence the Old Testament equivalent of "going to church."
This emphasis on reverence in terms of a daily walk with God is consistent throughout Scripture. The following, from the Psalms, are representative. "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name" (86:11). "Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments" (112:1). "May those who fear You see me and be glad, because I wait for Your word" (119:74).
Seen from God's perspective, reverence has never been a one-day-a-week affair. But as used in our world, "going to church" often reflects that very focus. Monday through Saturday is ours. We can use those days however we desire. We know we need God, and so we will pause for some religion on Sunday. We will "go to church." So runs the thinking of many.
God has a different vision. We serve him daily, wherever we are, whatever we do. We listen to him, and talk to him, more than just on Sunday. As God sees it, when Sunday comes, we do not "go to church," thus getting our week's dose of religion on that special day. The Lord's day is special because it's the time we purposefully gather to focus on him, the time when we express our gratitude and adoration for his nature and deeds.
Equipped with such a spirit, reverence will neither be forced nor will we have to decide whether we will attend the assembly from week to week. To church or to worship. Where are you going this Sunday?