Gathering to listen, not to be seen or heard ~ Mike MacIntosh

Then He said to them in His teaching, "Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation." Mark 12:38-40

Our desire should be to treat one another with the love and respect that God has shown to us. The scribes and religious people "played church" to look good in front of people and to have others treat them with dignity and honor. Is that why you go to church? I sure hope not! We should be attending our church services and Bible studies with God in mind; we should be asking the questions, "What does He want us to learn today? How does He want to show me what it means to be a Godly man or woman?"

In Matthew 11:7-8, Jesus was talking about John the Baptist, and He said to the scribes, "What did you go out in the wilderness to see, a reed that was shaken in the wind or somebody dressed in king's apparel?" (Matthew 11:7-8). Those religious people didn't really want to hear the Gospel that John was preaching; they wanted to look good in front of their constituents. They weren't looking for a humble man; they were looking for a popular preacher with fine clothes looking dapper and fancy. Again I ask the question, is this why you attend the church you do? Do you go to a place to worship because a preacher is decked out to the nines? Do you attend a church because of the rich people that attend and you want to be like them?

We need to take these words of Jesus seriously. We don't want to be like the scribes when we gather together, praying long-winded prayers to appear spiritual. We don't need to sit in the "best places" in order to be seen by others, thinking somehow that they will see you as more spiritual. We need to simply praise and worship the Lord when we gather together. Don't be concerned with what other people think about you. Come to church to give glory and honor to the Lord. Come to church to grow and to learn what it means to be His disciple.