"I don't have to go to church."

We've all heard them before. People who defend themselves and arm themselves with reasons and excuses as to why they don't go to church. They are too busy, they know God loves them anyways, they pray at home, they know all about God, they don't *need* to go to church, so why do it?

Why would you /do you go to church? Do you know what Church is? Do you go because you think you have to ... or someone told you that you have to? Do you go because you know you "should"?

Church is worship. It is not required. If you don't go to church God isn't going to love you any less. But church/worship is a very spiritual thing. Worship is all about bringing ourselves closer to God. We give thanks and praise because God is great and he loves us. God does amazing things and during the worship service we praise God and respond to what God has been doing in our lives. You can do this in many ways, singing, dancing, praying, etc etc. The more we bring to God, the more we will get out of worship. We go to church to be with God. Of course you can be with God whenever you want. But at church, you come to God as a community of believers. It is powerful, it can change lives, you can learn and experience new things, you see God's hand working and shaping our lives. Through worship, you can recognize God and God's work. Glory to God in worship is the outward manisfestation of God's hand, while for now all you have to look at him is a pair eyes.

A lot of people go "church - hopping" because they aren't getting anything out of going to church. They go from one church to another searching for some powerful or spiritual experience. But people shouldn't do that.... anyone get can get something out of ANY worship service if YOU put something into it. You put your heart and mind into giving back to God what he has given to us and you will feel that spiritual rush. It has more to do with what YOU do than with what the church does for you. Just pick a worship service and and bring all that you are before God and you will feel God radiating within you.