"What good has church done us?"

What if your assault happened at church? And not a soul on earth will believe you? What do you do when, what SHOULD be your SAFEST PLACE ON EARTH, becomes your most dangerous? For some of you, it's your own home - and it's one of your own parents! What do you do when the most horrible experience of your life happens "on holy ground" - a place you thought God would especially protect? HOW CAN YOU GO BACK THERE?

Still we know that God says in Hebrews 10:25 to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together. Unfortunately, He didn't add: "but only if you're safe and protected there." We know that in other countries beside America, church IS the most dangerous place on earth for Christians - but for different reasons. In countries without religious freedom, walking to church can bring the possibility that you're walking straight to your imprisonment or even formal execution. In past history, church officials have at times been some of the most corrupt individuals on earth, and experts at victimizing their particular "flock." So . . . . . church can be really, really BAD.

So why, in the name of all that's logical, would you go to church?

First of all, let's get one thing straight. A church building, in and of itself, is nothing especially "holy." Ask anybody who's in the business of building churches. It's a bunch of bricks and concrete and wood and nails and siding. It's the same as any other building - a school, a shopping mall, an office. And the bigger the church (or any other building), the harder it is to keep safe and secure. God "lived" in Israel's temple in the Old Testament, but He no longer does that - He now "lives" in the hearts and souls of His people. So it's not - wherever a church is, God is. Instead, it's now - wherever CHRISTIANS are, God is.

Second, I don't know all the reasons why, but there is value for you in corporately worshipping with other Christians - no matter how "flawed" those Christians may be. You may not be able to go back to the church where "it" happened - that's o.k. Go to another one. Or you may have to get somebody else to pick you up for church. Or you may not be able to participate in all the church activities you used to. Or you may have to sit next to your parents or Sunday School teacher or another "safe" person. Or you may have to get your best friend to meet you at the door. MAKE WHATEVER ADJUSTMENTS YOU HAVE TO MAKE TO KEEP GETTING YOURSELF TO CHURCH.

You will find something good there - even if it's just tiny. It may be the friendly way someone smiles at you. It may be a five-word phrase in a song. It may be one Scripture the pastor reads. It may be one sentence in a prayer offered in Sunday School. WRITE IT DOWN. Take paper with you and write that one good thing down. And hold on to that single golden nugget all week long. And go back next week for more - there just might be TWO good things next time!