Pray With Your Brothers

Micah had his own little home church. He built a shrine in his house and made his son the priest. Why his son? Because Dad's in charge, and the son does what he's told. When that didn't work out, he hired a real Levite and put him on the payroll. It looked like true religion, but Micah was running the show.

Then the tribe of Dan came through, looking for land God had never told them to look for. They took Micah's idols and his priest and set up their own worship.

So they set up for themselves Micah's carved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh. (Judges 18:31)

The house of God was right there in Shiloh. If they wanted to hear from God, they just needed to go. But they wanted it done their way. It's like the salad bar: pick out all the green stuff, keep the sugary nuts and cranberries. It still looks like a salad.

Some assembly required

This isn't a condemnation of anyone who has to watch online because of work, or because they're up north half the year. It's not a knock on Bible study at home. It's a warning about skipping the gathered church.

...not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another... (Hebrews 10:25)

Why do you need to go to church? Because there are people there you don't like. You'll compete with them for parking spaces. They'll rub you the wrong way.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (Proverbs 27:17)

You need people close enough to smell the fake on you.

Run your prayers past someone

The New Testament talks about agreeing together in prayer. Some have taken that too far, as if two people agreeing obligates God to do what they want. That's not it. Agreeing in prayer means running your prayers past somebody else: your spouse, your small group leader, a trusted Christian friend.

"Pray that I win the lottery." Maybe we should pray about not spending so much. "Pray that I'll be the most popular girl in school." Maybe pray to be the most humble one. When you pray with other people, your prayers get filtered.

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

If you stay home because you want a church that never steps on your toes, you'll end up with Micah's shrine.

So here's this week's question: Who have you given permission to challenge your prayer list? Run one prayer by them this week, and see whether it survives being heard by godly people.