I used to think that I didn’t need to attend church because I had a personal relationship with God and that didn’t require the influence of anyone else. Looking in hindsight, I had no relationship with God at all. I never prayed. I never seeked the counsel of God. I never read the Bible. I was never seeking God’s face, who He was or His character. I only called on Him when I needed a bailout or I was sick of “suffering” and wanted an (undeserving) blessing.
Far too often, this is the case when we try to do this walk on our own. Growing in our faith can be arduous when we don’t have the support or guidance from those who are spiritually mature to push us onward. Let me be clear that going to church does not save us but here are some reasons we should be a part of a church body whose head is Jesus Christ.
God Commands Us
Hebrew 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
We have hope in Jesus Christ because of what He accomplished on the cross. Once and for all, He sacrificed Himself to defeat sin as promised since the beginning (Genesis 3:15). When we rest our hope in who Jesus is and the victory that He has accomplished for us, we anticipate His return to call us home with Him. Until that time comes, we have a duty to worship and glorify God by obeying His commands in the pursuit of holiness.
With that said, faith in Christ is accompanied with love, not just for God, but for fellow believers in Christ. We are adopted into the family and they are our brothers and sisters. We come together to worship with each other to be blessed, not as a burden.
Accountability
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Often times, we are blinded by our own sin. We need close friends to help us see where we are falling, people who are a part of our everyday lives, who know our sin patterns, our gifts and talents, our strengths AND our weaknesses.
Proverbs 27:17 states that iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another. In the same way that tools are refined by chipping away impurities, so is man. We grow more together, rather than alone.
Christian Community
Galatians 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
When struggles occur, the church is called to be there for support and encouragement. This could be anywhere from struggling to fight a particular sin to unexpected tragedies. Once again, we need to be surrounded by people who know us. We need to spend time with these people, not only in group settings but also one on one, welcoming them into our homes. These are people who have the same goal as us, to worship and glorify the one true, sovereign God of the universe.
Corporate Prayer
Matthew 18:19-20 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.
Praying together is powerful, so powerful that Jesus includes it in His outline on how to pray. We are bringing our own voices together to collectively present requests to the Lord. We hear the requests of others instead of focusing solely on our needs. Through that, we learn how we can pray for our brothers and sisters.
I’ve been greatly blessed by my church family. I know that I am a part of something greater than myself when I am surrounded by them. It is a joy to my soul, to hear hundreds of other believers singing praises to our God, not just on Sunday morning but all week long because they are a part of my everyday life. If I can leave you with an encouragement to find a church home, it would be this:
Acts 2:46-47 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Don’t miss out on blessings that God has created and intended for His children through the gift of a church family. Be a part of something that is greater than just yourself. Give up your comforts and take up your cross to follow Jesus in washing the feet of others FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
Beggar of Grace 