Church

I've been thinking a lot about church lately. I have attended churches that seem to be filled with "pew-fillers" and I have attended churches that encourage me and build me up. I think there is one thing that makes a big difference. It's not the songs, the classes, or even the preacher. It's the community and sense of belonging. Without a sense of community or belonging, there is no church.

1 Corinthians 12:26-27 (New American Standard Bible):
(26) And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

People suffer together, they rejoice together. They know they belong. The hand doesn't tell the foot, "I don't have time for you." Or, "I didn't volunteer for this." It helps. No questions. The body is one. Just like a family.

2 Corinthians 6:18 (New American Standard Bible):
(18) "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me," says the Lord Almighty.

That makes us brothers and sisters. Family helps each other. No matter what. The love and belonging is unconditional. That's what a good church has. Community. It's a family. And to be part of such a church is an incredible blessing that helps a person deal with daily struggles. It gives an environment to heal and an environment to fight evil. It is where the environment to truly be able to spread the gospel comes from. No one can do it on their own. We all need support. And that's okay. It's more than okay; it's necessary. It's the way God made us. He made us to need other people, which is why a good church is so encouraging and fulfilling. And everyone should have a good church; no one should ever be without family.