“The Basics Foundational Teaching of the Christian Faith and Discipleship by Liberation Mission For Christ”
Download PDF Version here – Going to Church service
Not long ago an opening discussion from Church Leaders on FM Radio struck a nerve when it stated the necessity of Church attendance for your spiritual growth as a believer in Christ.
It’s surprising to me how many Christians struggle with the idea of church attendance. We are at a crossroads in our nation on the importance of going to church. According to research, church attendance has remained virtually a talking point for many among Christian leaders today than the past few years or so; however, this still means there are a huge number of Christians, especially among the youth who are not active in a local church and in the tens of millions around the global today.
Of course, this isn’t a new problem. Since the beginning of Christianity, the early leaders had to challenge this mindset, saying “Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
A popular Christian social media catch-phrase is, “You don’t go to church, you are the church.” While I get the sentiment in some ways, this is an unhealthy view, pitting “being the church” and “going to church” against each other. If we are truly “the Church,” then we will surely get together with other believers regularly. We cannot “be” the church, if we don’t “go” to church. Not fully anyways.
The “Church” never connotes a single, individual, lone ranger Christian just going about his Christian duties, and never gathering together to worship with other believers. The “Church” by it’s very nature means multiple believers, who “where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20)
This is both the Biblical and historical pattern set forth for us by the first followers of Jesus. They would get together weekly to worship God together, and at times even daily. They would also share community together in each other’s homes. Paul and the other Apostle’s letters were actually sent to these church communities that gathered in various cities to be read aloud together. Church means getting together with other believers to worship Jesus Christ, and hear the Scriptures together, and encourage one another in the faith.
Craig Groeschel shared recently, “There is something better. To worship God together and be committed to worship Him together, to hear His Word together. Do not reduce Church to listening to a podcast. It’s so much more than that. It’s community. It’s worshiping with other, praying for others, hurting with other, serving others, being involved in the lives of others.”
And here’s the reality of the Biblical call to gather with other believers. There are many options for going to church for each of us. You can look for a church that is right for you. I’m not telling you to go to a certain style, type, or denomination of church – I’m simply challenging you to gather with other believers regularly to worship and hear the Scriptures.
God tells us in His Word to “not give up meeting together.” (Hebrews 10:25)
The Bible even goes so far as to call the Church the “Bride of Christ.” If you love Jesus, you will love the things that He loves, and there is no one a good man loves more than His bride. The Church is this important to God, so it should be ever-important to us.
God didn’t call us to gather and worship to burden us, but to bless us. Church attendance can become one of the greatest blessings in you and your family’s life!
Jesus lives inside of us by His Spirit when we believe in Him – this is a profoundly incredible truth!
But there is also something biblically powerful about gathering together with other believers to worship. Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:20) So he is not only lives in us by His Spirit, but He is in the “midst” of us when we gather to worship Him.
All of us long for community and connection with others. God has given us this gift in gathering together for church, and in smaller groups in each other’s homes. It fulfills something inside of us to do life with others, encourage each other and be authentically involved in each other’s lives.
Christian TV, podcasts, books and conferences are wonderful additions to our spiritual lives, but nothing can take the place of consistent Christian community through the local church.
It can be messy when we step into each other’s lives. We are all human, and no one is perfect. So it requires effort and intentionally and grace from God to do life together, even as believers.
Gathering regularly with other believers becomes a refining process whereby we help each other, pray for each other and encourage each other to want to follow Christ more wholeheartedly. It is a truly beautiful thing.
Don’t let excuses stand in the way of what you know God is calling you to do. God will strengthen you, and empower you to do what He has called you to do. I am praying for you — if you have encountered past wounds from leaders or from church members — that God will bring healing and grace to you, as you seek to follow Him, and love His Church.
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Download PDF Version here – Going to Church service