tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post7748958255847358891..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: You are not doing God a favor by going to churchPastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-10566837391348795602015-06-13T09:23:52.910-05:002015-06-13T09:23:52.910-05:00I wonder then why Calvin advocated absolution as p...I wonder then why Calvin advocated absolution as part of corporate public worship...David Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11966977894876326659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-57155718472870750932015-06-13T07:55:07.120-05:002015-06-13T07:55:07.120-05:00Ah John, traveling is not a valid reason to not at...Ah John, traveling is not a valid reason to not attend church.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-18090594307178638112015-06-13T07:33:48.501-05:002015-06-13T07:33:48.501-05:00To be quite frank, I do not know people who act li...To be quite frank, I do not know people who act like they are doing God a favor by going to church. Close relatives, friends and others I have observed over the years often merely took the position that going to church services was not personally important to them, and so their attendance was or is haphazard. When I was a Catholic many decades ago, the priests often complained about the prevalence of "C&E" Catholics, those who only showed up only on Christmas and Easter services. For many infrequent attendees, it is pure laziness, a hard, yes hard and unbelieving heart, or any excuse....weather, a sporting event, too tired, some legitimate reasons, or none of the above. In my view, the Bible declares we are to worship Our Lord, receive the Sacraments, hear the word of God, commune in corporate worship and fellowship with other believers. Few excuses to avoid going to worship are valid, unless one is travelling, too sick, caring for another, suffering from fatigue due to circumstances or for necessary reasons. When one cannot attend, God understands, and no guilt should be felt, and the child of God will regularly pray and have devotions daily, not just on Sunday. The Christian life is to be lived with our whole hearts, mind, and souls, and humbly we worship God. The desire to go to church on Sunday should be enthusiastic ....." Let us go and worship the Lord Our God. Let us go into the House of the Lord." The psalmist reminds us.John Joseph Flanaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06596324816480709495noreply@blogger.com