“I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.” Psalm 119:63
August 23, 2023
The word that is going around in the media and in Christian circles is that we are living in the decline of the church in America. It is being called “de-churching.” Take a poll, starting with yourself. Are you in regular attendance in a church? This is not meant to hit you over the head with a guilt stick, but we need to consider the importance of developing friendships with fellow travelers. The journey is the Christian life. The destination is Christ’s coming kingdom. If you read through Psalm 119, you can’t help but see the chief concern of the psalmist is that God is discovered in his Word. The God-designated place to come alongside other Christians and draw encouragement for following the precepts of God is a Bible-rich local church. That’s where God-fearers ought to congregate. We could call them kindred spirits. There is much to gain from worshiping God together, getting to know one another, hearing the Bible explained and applied to real life situations. If because of physical illness you are what we might call a shut-in, search out a way to hear good Bible teaching and try to stay in touch with fellow believers. Make finding others who love God’s Word an indispensable part of your life. Don’t become a Christian hermit. How sweet is the enjoyment of shared obedience to God.
H
“Some churches are merely swapping members, moving corpses from one mausoleum to another. Some have made the Gospel a funeral and others have made it a frolic, and both have forgotten that it is a feast!” Vance Havner