We can only hope Lenny Bruce is still right when he stated, “Every day people are straying away from the church and going back to God.” Even though, for myself, I find no use for the church other than fellowship, a meeting place to discuss, debate, and learn, I would still rather people grin and bear it than be seduced by atheism. The church should not be a place for worship, as scripture specifically states in Matthew 6:5-6, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward. But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." To me, this does not prohibit churches and synagogues as places for fellowship; it simply states they are not ideal places for worship and prayer unless your goal is to stroke your own ego. These are not places to parade your faith in public, "like the hypocrites," instead of exercising the preferred humility of Christ.
To read the rest of next weekend’s “My Sunday Thought,” fall back to the attached link and consider an opportunity to “Fall Back on Faith”: Fall Back on Faith