In my Hebrew Bible class that I took last spring semester, my professor talked about the word Hallelujah. "Jah" is derived from the word Yahweh and "halle" means all of you. Together, the word means "praise God, all of you."
I have often heard this clever quip that going to church doesn't make you any more of a christian than standing in a garage makes you a car. And I have heard people argue that one doesn't need to go to church at all the be a christian. I would beg to differ.
Attending church is about being in a community. God's mission field is as much inside the doors of a church as it is outside. A church is a place where we are called together to work at living in a heaven-like community. It doesn't matter what denomination claims the building, or if the church has a pipe organ or a praise band. It is about the people within who are going through life together, and holding each other accountable on their faith journeys.
God loves the church. We may not love the establishment of getting up early on a Sunday morning and sitting through an hour and 1/2 long service; but a church community is a gift from God and we are called to embrace it. I watch Dancing with the Stars with my mom because she loves that show. I watch football with my dad, because my dad loves it. I love both of them. I believe that part of loving God is loving and being passionate about the things He loves. God loves the church, and He wants us to be a part of that community.
So let's run an experiment - what if we all just worshiped on our own, all the time, in solitude. We can only shout "loo-yah." It sounds strange, and it will feel strange too. Hallelujah; Praise God, all of you. I am thankful for my church community here in Bloomington. The service I attend is called "The Open Door." I hope that is what anyone would find when they seek God's church - an open door, and an open community.
~SP
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