Shine like Stars (5): Congregational Worship

To be refueled to face the darkness and to experience the joy of the light of God's face we need to worship. "If our faces shine like Moses' as he came down from the mountain, or like Stephen's in the council chamber, [people] will 'take notice of us that we have been with Jesus." Meeting with God remind us who we are. And "it's not so easy to manipulate people who know who they are."

The gathered church is essential. God's people throughout the generations have understood this. The author of the Belgic Confession, Guido de Bres, along with many other faithful ministers, preached to groups of protestants in secret at risk of their lives. He was hung for so doing. Chinese believers meet illegally in homes because they know that they must.

We need to dispense with the childish logic that going to church doesn't make you a Christian, any more than parking in a garage makes you a car. The comparison should insult intelligent people. Properly understood, going to church actually does make you a Christian.