Church Service

“Father, we are here…
Jesus, we are here…
Holy Ghost, we are here…
We are here FOR YOU…”

This song most often than not made the playlist in any Christian gathering I attended when I was growing up. Beautiful song, especially when there is a melodic syncopation between the vocals and the instruments.

I sang this song innocently and I want to believe that in the days of my ignorance, God overlooked. I have stopped singing this song because I have come to realize that my intent is not in tandem with the message portrayed by the lyrics.

In my little study of Parts of Speech in English language, I learnt that the preposition “FOR” finds functionality in variety of ways. In the context of the lyrics of this song, it is used as a function word to indicate the object or recipient of a perception, desire, or activity.

If that is true, it then means that our coming together will benefit God more than it will benefit us.

Hmmm, I want to think that I can hear what is going on in your head right now. It’s a hard pill to swallow but not to worry, I have a glass of juice to help you out.

God is all sufficient. He does not need our coming together to be any more or any less God than He is. Our gathering is not FOR him, it is for us.

We are the ones that need healing, breakthrough, provision, protection, elevation and all other things that will help us fulfill purpose.

This is the reason a lot of people develop an unruly attitude and sense of entitlement towards the gathering of brethren. They think they are doing God some favour. After all, it must be important to Him if He commands us never to neglect the gathering of believers.

Sorry to burst your bubble, your gathering is NOT FOR HIM, IT IS FOR YOU!

I’m a Pastor’s Kid and boy have I seen and experienced a great deal of religion. Trust me, I have no qualms with it. Again, this is not an affront on Christianity, I’m a die-hard believer. However, there are times when I just bring some things I’ve held on to and beam lasers of relevance and time on them. I put them in what a friend of mine choose to call TRUTHOSCOPE.

One of such is the way I was taught to pray. I was taught that my voice must be really loud to show my seriousness with the prayer. My problem was not what it did for me, but what it did to me. It made me see anyone who does not shout while praying as not being serious with prayer. Growing up, I had to learn that my prayers are as effective in a shout as they are in a whisper. The common denominator for effectiveness is Faith in the one who hears my loud cries as well as my silent muses when the words are heavy to let out.

However, that is not the crux of my dilemma in this short series. I want to really address a matter that has given me concern, as well as a few believers out there. The matter is this; what really is church service?

This is going to be challenging, but some people will be delivered when we are done. I will try neither to be heretical nor defame theology. Also, the opinions I express here should not in anyway be misconstrued as absolute. I’m also in search of answers as you are.

Follow me patiently on this one, you’ll be glad you did.