3. House

[Jahaira]

Day 3 Meditation (Psalm 122).

Why do people desert the house of God in our day? Why do so many Christians believe they can mature in Christ without the help of Christ's people? How can you pray for the peace of God’s house? What can you do to “seek the good” of God’s house?

It's simple, people stop believing in him, in his promise. We as humans and sinners always look for our satisfactions, our wants, our desires,only thinking about us. Satan has been really busy, and people are in pain and honestly don't know where to turn to. Too many religion, makes people confuse, and nowadays, so many hypocrisy in the house of the Father that some just don't feel comfortable going. (personal experience) I can't understand anyone thinking that they can mature in Christ without his help, that's just ignorance. If you don't look for the help of the father, and his guidance, I'm sorry to say, and this is my opinion, He won't be there. To me, the Father's house is everywhere. You can worship YHWH anywhere. He is in all of us and he is with us. We can't put a limit where the Father's house is, he created all and all of us. He's everywhere we allow him to enter. We make the choice. 

Thank you for your attention and many blessings to all. may the Father be with you all.

[Kym Nixon]

People have deserted the church for several reasons. Some have been hurt by the church, disagree with the church's stance on contemporary cultural hot button issues, such as gay marriage and abortion, find it antiquated, boring, irrelevant, oppressive. Our culture has been desensitized. We haven't taught our children, moms and dads working and letting television and music industry and gaming raise the kids.

People feel they can go it alone without church fellowship because a spirit of independence, indifference, jealousy, offense has estranged Christians one from another. Every has their pet doctrines that makes it more difficult to find unity. Pride is the biggest issue.

It's important to pray for the peace of Jerusalem because that is God's heart. These are His chosen people. My entire lifetime, Jerusalem has been in turmoil and controversy. Peace is a part of the name of this city. I need to decree Shalom.

Seeking the good of God's house is fellowship, harmony, no backbiting and slander, support financially, prayer.  

[Irmela]

Day 3 Meditation (Psalm 122).

Why do people desert the house of God in our day?

Why do so many Christians believe they can mature in Christ without the help of Christ's people?

How can you pray for the peace of God's house?

What can you do to "seek the good" of God's house?

A building is usually seen as the "House of God", yet, no building can contain Him.  That same building is used for entertainment, for bazaars and other functions, etc.   Is it thus only seen as the "House of God", at certain times?   In the Word of God we read that where two or three are gathered together in His Name, He is in the midst of them.  Is it thus not better to gather together  in such a way and would it be false to say that that is also seen as the House of God.  

Christ's people are everywhere and yes, it is nice to gather in one place for fellowship with many of His people.  Do we learn much when we are all bunched together and many wear their "Sunday, go to church faces"?  Is it just a hive of activity and excitement?  Maybe it is a time to visit with others, who we do not  visit with at home, in a formal way.  

At the time when the temple was in Jerusalem, the people were encouraged to gather together for the three times yearly, as an endeavour to keep the nation united.  Also it was a place where the "ark of God" had been housed.  Thus seen to house the presence of God.  

The above are not  easy questions to answer.   I do see and understand that God is all over and that it is often more blessed to be together with a small group, encouraging one another, pouring over God's Word, and praying together about issues arising or issues that had been spoken about.  I do feel that God is right there amongst us.  

[Krissi]

The first question assumes that you had been “in the house” before deserting it, that there was something for you to desert. Most Westerners do not have church as a part of their lives therefore feel nothing missing when they don’t attend. To understand the depths of the secular mindset is difficult for those who grow up in Christian families and the church. Most Americans/Westerners are thoroughly secular. Some have remnants of their grandparent’s faith in the form of an unquestioned moral behavior, but for the most part, they take their moral cues from peers, and those peers are not churched.

Ultimately, you set priorities. If church is a high enough priority, you’ll attend. If not, you’ll come up with excuses or rationally avoid it. Attending church and getting to know other Christians is costly – it costs you personally. Involvement in church is a sacrifice, therefore. I find it interesting that Pastor Ralph’s family tried to instill in him the idea that going to church is a good time and something to which he should look forward – for most of us, it may be best to think of church attendance and activity as an outgrowth of self-discipline and a command from God. The cost of attending/obedience may well exceed the benefits/blessing. 

Frankly, it is more than possible to mature without other Christians. The indwelling Holy Spirit causes your heart to incline toward Christ, not other people. If anything, other people confuse the growing Christian and may even hold him or her back. When you want to really know Him and His will, you get alone in prayer. Solitude has a much bigger role in the life of a sanctifying Christian than fellowship!

Praying for peace within the church (and in all Christian relationships) and seeking the good of others is something that comes naturally to a thriving Christian whose eyes are oriented vertically, not horizontally. Ironically, a church of believers whose primary focus is on Him will not have bickering and nasty relationships with other Christians. Focusing not on others but on Him creates peace.