Editorial January 22, 1996 Issue

Why go to church?

Barbara M. Vining

People gather together at church services to worship God. But to worship God you don't need to be in the company of others. You can worship God anywhere, anytime, all by yourself. And, in fact, Christ Jesus said, "The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him" (John 4:23). So, why gather at a church service to worship together?

Could it be that the Father is calling on us collectively, as well as individually, to "worship [Him] in spirit and in truth"? A recent experience offered a helpful perspective.

My husband and I had the privilege of spending quite a bit of time over a two-week period with our granddaughter, Sadie. (We enjoyed being with her parents, too!) Whenever this little girl sees us, her face lights up with delight, as if we were the most exciting thing in her life. And she's always ready with open arms to hug us and tell us that she loves us. It isn't just that we are her grandparents. She's just naturally animated with a spirit of openhearted love that draws out the joy in everyone. If the family takes her to a restaurant, for example, customers from other tables not only smile and wave at her, they make special effort to come over to talk with her when they get up to leave.

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