Whether through neglect or misunderstanding, it is obvious that too many Christians practice a localized kind of religion; one that is almost entirely limited to the confines of the church building.

Equally important is the matter of limiting our praying to the assemblies of the church. Nothing should be more characteristic of the Christian than frequent and fervent prayer. As Paul puts it, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5:17), and through James God tells us that "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (5:16). Do we believe it? The Christian's prayer is an expression of his faith. He believes in the God to whom he prays, yet cannot see. He believes God hears and answers his prayers. His prayer is also an expression of humility. He sees God's greatness and his own littleness; his supplications acknowledge his need for help; his thanksgivings express his appreciation for blessings received. I, for one, believe we need more praying in our assemblies. But I believe we need more prayer outside of our assemblies too! Christian, take time out of your busy daily schedule for some quiet moments of prayer. Its one of our greatest blessings.

Yet another problem with church-building religion is the limited association it allows with brethren. Unfortunately, about the only time many Christians see one another is at the meeting house. There are times, of course, when circumstances permit little else. However, many can and need to do better than merely having a brief "foyer fellowship” with brethren. Brethren need encouraging, consoling, exhorting, and admonishing. They have burdens we can help to bear, weakness we can help to overcome. But, we must be there — for their sake and ours. When we leave the pew, we still follow Christ.              Dan S. Shipley