Daddy, Do you love me?

I think those words rocked me worse than getting blindsided on the kickoff team when I played football. The question came out of the blue, completely unexpected, and from the lips of my daughter. She and I were riding in the car on the way home from ice cream after a trip to the doctor. The ice cream was her consolation for the 3 shots she had recieved in her little arms. I had held her as she got these shots she did not want, but were necessary for her to have as she was starting gradeschool in less than a week.
She had not been completely informed of why we were going to the dr, and that was by design. She had recieved shots before and it had become quite an ordeal. The mere sight of a needle sent her into great emotional distress and and she fought against this necessary evil with all her might. To say it was a difficult experience for all involved was an understatement.
The experience had made room in her mind for "the question". If I truly loved her why would I allow a complete stranger to jab needles in her arm, and hold her down, against her will while he committed such atrocities!
I seem to have come across this question alot lately with christians. The reasons vary, but somehow, in the state they are in this once unquestionable truth has been undermined by "lifes happenings'. I think questioning is a healthy trait, and actually helps to move us along in our belief patterns, but only to a point. I can question almost anything if I want to. I can question if the sky is blue, and completely rationalize it away given enough time and effort. But as I remove even the most basics of truth from my life.....is that a good thing. Imagine what would happen to a child if they decided to go through their life deciding their daddy doesnt love them. And here is the deal....dad can do anything and everything to try and show he loves his child, but the ultimate acceptance of that is up to the child, hence freewill. It must be difficult being a christian and not being sure hat God loves you, or answers prayer, or His plans for you are good, or all things work together for good to them that love Him , etc etc.
We have an adversary who loves us to question even the most basic of truths. Its like getting his foot in the doorway. "Did God really say........". And if we question His word, which He says is true, inspired by the Holy Spirit, in one area because what we see doesnt seem to match up with what He says.....where does it end? God tells us we are supposed to go on faith... not what we see. He tells us to believe what He has told us....and believe all of it, not just what is comfortable for us.
Ive noticed another thing....when the bible comes into question there seems to come a flurry of new books to be read. Many of the authors of these books have had "questions" too and in their "higher learning" they have come up with "new truths" that dispel God's truth. Articulate, well written lofty worded books that basically state the very foundations of who God is, His character and love for us is all called to question.
I dont need to tell you how much my daughters question hurt me. I thought with all she had seen and been with me that question would never have entered her mind. But life doesnt always happen the way we think it should, and things dont always go our way (often the results of our own choices), so why does that make God questionable? And is all questioning really a good thing?

Why do we go?

Why do we go to church? That was a fair question asked by my son who at the time had just achieved his sixth birthday. I rambled through the usual answers such as not forsaking the gathering of the brethren, to honor God, etc etc. None of these seemed to make sense to his understanding. We go to the restuarant to eat, we go to the clothing stores to buy pants, we go to the movies to watch movies, we go to the bank to get money. He was looking for something tangible in going to church. I explained to him how we get to know God, how we draw close to Him, how He gives us life abundantly. He looked at me with a curious look and replied How do you get to know God if He isnt there? Why cant we see Him? I did my best to appease his curious mind but I must confess, quoting scripture did not work, and in the end he was left somewhat frustrated...as was I.

So why do we go? Is it moral obligation? Does God feel better when He knows we are sitting in the pews being good little boys and girls at least one day out of the week. Does it make Him feel honored by us being there. Maybe so...I am not sure. I dont know how honored He can be watching someone show up out of due diligence. Nor how honoring it is to go so that your "fire insurance premiums" are paid up.

Do we go to see the mighty hand of God move upon his people? What does that look like? I have heard it expained as comfort, and peace. Dont get me wrong these are wonderful and necessary blessings, but does it seem that all God's blessings lately are internal and unseen? Not like watching one climb out of a wheel chair, or sight being restored to blind eyes after 20 years. A person with a swollen broken arm suddenly watch as the pain and the swelling go away. When I think of how many people are suffering physically with one ailment or another, and how much God loves His children, And the stripes Jesus took upon His back. When I think about the promises (And there are so many if we look) that God makes to us about His external manifestations and blessings.

When I look at the early church, I know why they went. Because God was there and it was obvious. To watch their friends who had been maimed all their lives suddenly jump and leap and shout the victory, no wonder they praised God with fervor. And then Jesus told us that "these things and greater things than these will you do. And Jesus put a big time qualifier on it all. If we "believe and do not doubt". Jesus also said "When I return, will I find faith anywhere on the earth?" The implication being true faith is going to be extremely rare.
Im not saying this is the core reason why we should go to church.... Im just wondering why this facet of the fruit seems to be missing from the tree. And what else might be missing along with it.