ON CHRISTIANITY

DEAR REV. GRAHAM: I’m admittedly a fairly independent person, and I just can’t see myself joining a church. I want to be free to run my own life and set my own schedule. And anyway, if I want to, I can always watch a church service on television. What’s wrong with doing that?

— K.R. DEAR K.R.: I’m grateful many churches today make their services available through radio or television. As a result, people who can’t otherwise attend their church because of sickness or age are still able to share in its ministry. Admittedly, they miss the opportunity to see their friends or get acquainted with new people — but it still can be a great spiritual help to them.

But age or sickness isn’t your problem — and I hope you’ll stop and consider what your problem really is. Yes, we all have different personalities, and perhaps you’re more of an independent spirit than most. But don’t use this as an excuse to ignore God, or to keep Him at arm’s length (so to speak) from you. Frankly, almost nothing is more spiritually dangerous than your comment that you want to run your own life — because it means you don’t have any room for God.

In other words, the issue you face isn’t just church; the issue you face is Jesus Christ, and what place He should have in your life. He left Heaven’s glory for one reason: to make it possible for us to be forgiven and saved. He did this by sacrificing His life for us on the cross. God loves you that much!

As Christmas approaches this year, I pray that you will open your heart to Jesus Christ, and submit your life to His control. God’s promise is true: “Submit yourselves, then, to God … and he will come near to you” (James 4:7-8).