Despite the fact that many Christians enjoy attending church services, staying home has grown increasingly popular.
Devoted people of faith sometimes use alternative spiritual methods such a meditation, group Bible study and direct prayer to maintain a relationship with God. They convince themselves that taking the additional time to attend church doesn’t matter because they have a personal connection with God. While it’s true that you may not lose God’s love by staying home, there are important reasons why going to church makes a difference.
Understanding the Meaning Of “Church”
In today’s culture, a “church” is commonly thought of as a physical structure. It’s a public place where people congregate to worship. But, in a Biblical sense, the word “church” does not refer to a place, it refers to the people. Church and the body of Christ are synonymous.
In the Bible, a church is generally a gathering of believers and we see Paul say in 1 Corinthians 1:2, “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The word “church” also refers to the physical bodies of each believer.
After receiving the Gospel from Christ, Paul preaches, “For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13). He also says in 1 Corinthians 15:9 that “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
Not only do these passages articulate that each believer comprises the church of Christ, that idea extends to all Christians throughout history. This idea of group worship as church certainly lends credence to participating with others. Still, if we as people of faith make up God’s church, does it matter whether or not we travel to the physical structure and attend services?
Jesus Attended Church
Perhaps no example could be greater than the fact that Jesus himself attended services. We see in Luke 4:16 that “(Jesus) went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was His custom.” This begs the question: why would Christ need to attend church unless it were important?
If we cull together the ideas about “church,” it includes a gathering of believers and all who have trusted in the Lord are forever a part. That makes Christians one family, one clan if you will.
While it may hold true that traveling to a structural house of worship for weekly services isn’t the only way to attend church, any gathering of believers meets the definition. Christians are a family, or to be more precise, the “family of God.” We have the same beliefs and serve Him. As in any family, Christians enjoy a co-dependence with each other that is vital to Faith and community. Gathering together means more than praying alone.
Practical Reasons to Attend Church
Consider that there are simple reasons that going to church makes sense. First, it’s excellent practice. Although many people seek a personal relationship away from physical structures and gatherings of the faithful, distraction can be a significant challenge. When you attempt to make a spiritual connection in your own personal space, there are everyday things that cause you to postpone or not be in the moment. Kids playing, household chores, or a work deadline are things that impact your mental focus.
In Hebrews 10:25, the Bible says that “Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship. But we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.” Going to services with others provides a ritual that all are focused on together.
Another reason attending church services matters is fellowship. Gathering together as God’s family provides a designated time and place to come together under His banner. Fellowship with God, family and other Christians strengthens the universal body through mutual love.
There are plenty of excuses that everyday people can come up with to bypass going to church such as work, time constraints and responsibilities. However, that should all fall by the wayside when you consider that God wants Christians to come together in church.
~ Christian Patriot Daily
