I have been involved in ministry for 8 years now, and been a full-time pastor for almost three. (I know I sound like I have weathered years and years of ministry=sarcasm of course) Sometimes I feel like when I ask someone if they go to church or if they are involved in a church, I get some interesting but similar responses.
I hear:
1. I believe in God but not organized religion
2. I had a bad experience with a pastor or church (though they never proceed to explain why they are not attending currently)
3. I didn't like the pastor or the music (still with the unexplained reason for no current attendance)
4. I'm too tired, I work a lot.
5. I sleep in on Sundays.
These are not the things I want to say to Christ when I stand before Him. Second my first question is usually what do you think church is? I find the conception of church is very skewd and wrong. Let me answer some general questions about church first before we dive in:
1. Do you have to go to church to be saved?
Answer: No
2. Does going to church make you holier/better than other people?
Answer: No
3. If you do not attend church does God love you less?
Answer: No
The problem I have run into is there are so many people who are willing to say they believe in God and love him, yet do not want to serve him, love him, or have fellowship with His people. The sad reality is Scripture clearly indicates that God's people will want to have fellowship together.
Therefore, I am going to give you 4 reasons why as a believer you should be in church fellowship with a local church every week. (if not everyday)
1. Church is about about fellowship.
Now unfortunately this Christian jargon gets thrown out for any meeting or gathering of church people to eat, have fun, and basically do anything with the word fellowship other than how Scripture actually uses this word.
Fellowship is the Greek word (koinonia) it means a close association of believers or a communion of intimate participation of like-minded people. This term was used extensively by the NT early church. If you don't know this word, listen to the person who usually like to quote consistently how we should be like the early church!
The early church and the author Luke used it for a reason: as noted fellowship was of an intimate nature and involved participation which symbolized this same relationship with Christ. I don't have a lot of room but here is a basic run down using all the verses that describe what the early church fellowship looked like:
They were together and had everything in common
they met together everyday corporately and privately praying, praising and learning God's word
they spent time in each others homes
they were one in heart, mind and soul
they shared wealth, land, material possessions and provided for those who could not provide for themselves.
(Acts 2:42; Acts 4:32-35; 5:12-16)
Fellowship with a church is more than just showing up, but if you are not showing up at all, how can you really be participating in Christ' vision, His picture of true community and fellowship.
2. Scripture indicates that believers always in some way worship corporately.
There isn't a place in Scripture that indicates one should be disconnected from the people of God or that they should not be a part of a corporate group. From the OT we see God's people lived, worshiped, and praised God together:
Nehemiah 8:2,5: "Ezra stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion....he opened the book of the Law. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and he opened it, the people all stood up. Ezra praised the LORD, the Great God; and all the people lifted up their hands and responded, Amen! Amen! Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground."
And in the NT:
Acts 2:46-47: "Everyday they continued to meet in the temple courts......praising God..."
Acts 5:12: "As the apostles performed many miracles....all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade"
3. There numerous benefits of church fellowship:
A. You hear God's word preached and are reminded of who you are and how your supposed to live:
I had a youth onetime tell me that he loved coming to church/bible study because it reminded him of how much he needed Jesus and to live a different life. Church involves preaching of God's word,which includes praise, rebuke, instruction, correction and encouragement! (2 Tim. 3:16). This might have been why Paul emphasized greatly to Timothy while he was leading in Ephesus to "Preach the word..." God's word cuts to the heart (Hebrews 4:12) and when we hear it, it convicts us when we are living wrongly and encourages us to know we are forgiven and loved.
B. You grow spiritually.
One thing I constantly remind my youth of when they would get frustrated with those who do not attend bible study or church, is that they are no better than them for being at church. But they do grow more than they would. I can tell you this is absolutely true. We have a core group that attends all the bible studies, activities and missions that we have, and they are the most spiritually mature and discerning of the group. They grow because they are active in living out what they learn about Christ through the opportunities provided by the church. This helps them to become mature believers (Hebrews 6:1). This simply cannot be achieved effectively by one's self.
C. Many different issues are addressed:
For sake of time and space the church fellowship also helps:
Dispels false or wrong teaching (praying that your church is teaching correct doctrine as well)
Keeps members and leaders accountable.
Can address moral, and spiritual problems with members (adultry, abuse, gossip,--well just read any Paul book)
Can be a catalyst for local and international service and evangelism.
You get the hint. And I could write an endless amount of reasons why biblically you should be connected and committed to a local church. So really the question isn't why you do not go to church, but what excuses are you making for not growing, or corporately worshiping, praising and serving our God?
I stress the importance because Scripture stresses the importance of corporate worship:
Hebrews 10:19-25:
"let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another."
Notice the 4 things that is exhorted here:
Because we know about our new great High Priest (Jesus) and his grace and mercy toward us:
1. Let us draw near... (since we know Christ we should pursue, run after Him)
2. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess..." (nothing should sway our confession that our hope lies in Christ)
3. Let us spur one another by (encourage, rebuke and love one another)
4. Let us keep meeting together unlike those who have made a habit of NOT doing so..." (Let us then encourage one another by a general exhortation to meet corporately!)
Will McDonald sums up this idea perfectly:
"Without question we find strength, comfort, nourishment and joy in collective worship and service."
Be Blessed
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