Re: Suffering forces you to think... quoteEDITED

Also, one more thing for the record BTDT: I do believe it all comes down to a personal relationship with Christ. I pray in private, study God's word in private, sing songs of praise to God in private (that part is really good cause no one else wants to hear me sing, but I know God enjoys it:)).

I don't believe someone going to church in anyway saves them. Assembling ourselves together means nothing apart from a personal relationship with Christ. But to assemble ourselves together, is an encouragement and a great way to mature in our personal relationship with Christ. Whether other believers are loving us with the love of God, or irritating us with their fleshly faults, the relationships with other believers can help us to grow in Christ.

And come that day when God has finished preparing us to be the pure bride of Christ, we are all going to be together in union, not separate. So why would he desire for us to be on this walk alone now?

Paul told us many times to encourage each other in love, and encourage each other in this race for the prize, which will be to know Christ fully, as He knows us. Just like people stand along the side of an olympic runner running a race, we are to stand along the side if each other, encouraging each other to endure to the end.


Hebrews 10:23-25

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 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.