“The institutional relationship of the Old covenant was changed(curtain torn,etcJ). But men LIKE the institutional relationship, why is that?”
Uhhh.... at the risk of sounding judgmental... it could be because they like going to places (church) where there are lots of vulnerable women that might be hoping to meet a man. Then again, I could just be thinking of a particular womanizing stepson of mine...lol.
But seriously, I ‘get’ the need of some folks for community and meeting with like-minded (fellow Christians) in worship. I have just never felt that need, personally. What I have seen and experienced from a few such experiences... has actually opened my eyes to the hypocrisy of some that are “church-goers”. Those few, unfortunately, have tended to sour the ‘entire barrel’ in my mind.
I have a neighbor that never misses church, for instance. He goes without his wife along every Sunday. This guy cheated on his wife, a friend of mine, with a woman that lived across the street from them previously. It is what it is. We are all sinners and have sinned. I just don’t want to put myself in a position where I have to “observe” the hypocrisy.
by men I was thinking mankind but your points are valid.
My thoughts are you can hide in an institution, look good.
A personal relationship with God is too revealing and intense for many. No place to hide.
But that is the Good News, there is no place to hide.
It is not one or the other, but both are needed, just not an institution
The Book of Remembrance
Mal 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honor of His name.
To me the above is the church. I hope you have a few of God’s warriors in your life, if not, find them.