Why I Go to Church

     Recently I received a strange request from my son. With limited interaction with the free world, he has begun to notice God in action in his prison surroundings. I see this as a major step in his rehabilitation. He presented me with a strange question from a fellow inmate. Apparently, in describing his family to his work-out buddy, he mentioned our church. The inmate asked Matt to inquire as to why I go to church. After some deep consideration and self-reflection, I came to the following summation for answers to his question. My email read as follows:

Dear Matt,

Tell your buddy there are several reasons I go to church. The first is a commandment from God: Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. I do not believe that it has to be a Sunday, but I do believe that we are called to worship The Lord. Worship is a way to show God the respect we have for him. It's all about God and not about us.

I also believe there are scriptures that encourage corporate worship, By corporate worship I mean going to church with other Christians. Colossians 3:16 says" Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

We are to encourage fellow Christians and where better to do that than at church. Hebrews 10:25 "Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

There are many other verses. Hebrews 12:28-29 “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire”.  Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

The book of Acts talks about the church in the early days. After Pentecost and the Holy Spirit coming down, early Christians met together to encourage one another. It talks about the different spiritual gifts given to each person by God. They are supposed to work together to be the Body of Christ. You can't do that staying at home away from other believers.

This is just a few, but I hope you can see my point. Plus, your Dad and I would have had a much harder time with your trials if it had not been for our church. 

Love you bunches, Mom!

      Prison is a strange place in many aspects. My son has survived because he is quiet, smart, and stands over six feet five inches tall. He has learned to watch his steps and always consider the possibilities of what could happen. He has had to defend himself once which cost him several days in the SHU, Special Housing Unit.

When I asked him why he did not attend church at the prison, he was very clear. He did not want to associate with any specific group. Due to our Christian nature of forgiving and loving others, those who cannot fit in with any prison group find themselves welcome in the Christian community.  To some this can be perceived as a weakness, and being weak is not a positive trait in the prison population.

     Whether he attends a corporate worship service or not, I can tell by his words and actions that he feels the presence of the Lord. Why else would he even bother to ask me about church?  I know one thing: he is prayed for each and every day by many different people.  I tell him often that God has a purpose for leaving him here since he has narrowly escaped death countless times.  My only hope is that one day he will share his story of God’s grace in his life.

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