Going to church in modern day America is a pleasant experience. Upon entering the building, we are welcomed with doughnuts, coffee, pastries and coke. We enter the auditorium whenever it is convenient for us and take a seat in comfortable chairs, usually somewhere in the back so no one will notice if we start dozing off. Now that we are settled in, it is time to be entertained! We take no thought at getting up during prayer for a trip to the loo before the sermon starts. Leaving the service early is no problem if the preacher is dragging on too long and we find ourselves bored (and we can do this without the guilt of interrupting others thanks to the enormous size of today’s church auditoriums).
Contrast this to a typical orthodox church service where you can expect a service of at least 3-4 hours in which you will be standing a majority of the time. Modesty is a rule when it comes to dress and appearance, men wear suits and women wear dresses. Don’t even think about arriving late or leaving early, it is disrespectful and you won’t be able to take part in communion. “In the fear of God, with faith and love, draw near;” this is their approach to church.
We have become so casual with God that it is not uncommon to find even our pastors wearing jeans and a tee shirt to church. Listen to this song and tell me if you do not think we have lost something in our retreat from liturgy.
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I’m facing this same reality. I’m also getting bored by the preacher, buying my coffee and bretzle at the church, etc. I think I have the bad attitude toward God. I mean you know that God loves people who have faith in Him. It is also written : “The just will live by faith”. I think the good attitude when we go to church is going by faith in his words.
Why do I sing on sunday ? Because He says : “you lead me to the source of life through a path where nobody can stumble in” (somewhere in psalm.). I mean that everything that we have to do for him shall be done only : with love, peace and by faith in his words and we have to declare it just before we do what we want to do for Him. It is our choice, because we can do whatever we want, but if we do anything for Him, those caracteristics have to be the basis.
Then God does his words and make a new path for you.
If you choose to get in the end of the world to visit it, then, go lucky guy.
If you do that because it is written : Go until limits of the earth to preach the good news. You declare it and you make choices to do it. Then God open special doors, give you the annointing you need, provides for whatever…. because you do that because of your faith, and He moves montains in life, makes a way in the sea…… and opens new paths of blessing where other people will be very blessed.
I recommend you the biography of David WILKERSON. This guy learned to live in the way of faith that make moving the heart and the hand of God.
God bless you my friend.
Jason