Should a Christian go to Church?
We live in an age where suspicion and mistrust for any institution including the Church are at paramount proportions. Many Christians have been badly hurt by negative experiences and poorly trained, under-experienced and in some cases ungodly leaders in the Church. This has let to a mass exodus of people attending and committing to a local body of believers who gather to worship Christ on the first day of the week as seen in the book of Acts. (Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2) Most confessing Christians understand that the Church is not a building but it is the people who make up Gods Church. Furthermore, these people can be from any background, culture and geographical location. God knows that you love Him and obey His commands without having to show anyone… and I can worship God in the privacy of my own home or with other Christians I know and make this my Church…Right? We also know that the Church is Universal and made up of all believers from all around the world too which I don’t think any believer thinks is a reason for their not to be a local Church. These are many of the thoughts that are held by those who do not attend a local Church where they are known by a local body of believers who hold each other accountable and encourage each other.
Q – Are you a Christian? Yes…
Q – Do you believe the Gospel? ….Christ died for my sins and I must believe on Him to be saved? Yes? If so…
Q – Do you believe that God loves you whether you go to a Church or not?
Answer; I can be a Christian without going to Church…right? My beliefs are between me and God; He knows I believe in Him.
Q – Should a Christian want to obey God and what He commands?
Answer; Yes, obedience from the heart to Gods commands over self is a proof of genuine salvation. (Romans 6:17)
Q – Jesus himself said that He would build His Church….so what is that?
Answer; The Basic definition of the Church (Greek – Ekklesia) are those believers who have been called out of darkness into the light.
Q – Who then should go to Church?
Answer; When you became a Christian God became your Father and you were born into the family of God. Family is not an individual concept but something that can only be lived out with others.
The Apostle Paul says; “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”Rom. 12:4-5
Q – But Church has people I don’t like in it!
Answer; Yes, that’s most likely the case but each of these people whether good Christians or not does not dis-annul Gods command to commit to His family. The Church is filled with people who will be sinners until the day Christ comes. God chooses the weak, the shameful and not the rich and the prestigious to enter into the Kingdom of God and if he chose you then surely you could help play your part to be a part of the answer. (1 Corinthians 1:7)
Q – Hang on…Cant I just worship God in my own way and in my own personal devotions? Answer; Yes this is a part of your walk with God but remember there are no letters written to individual Christians in the Bible only to Churches with believers who gathered together. In not choosing to commit to a local body of believers (despite your previous experiences) you are proactively by your actions and lifestyle promoting the dismantling of the New Testament Church Government that was put into place by Christ himself. (Ephesians 4:11-12)
Consider the following things and then check out the following Bible verses about your situation.
Jesus only promised to build those who were proactive in being a part of His Church (Read; Matthew 16:18)
The Apostle Paul warned there would be those who would confess themselves as believers but yet forsake the gathering of themselves into a local Church (Read; Hebrews 10:25)
Jesus died to give the Church pastors and teachers to look out for his people. Who are you being pastored and taught by, to grow you in your faith? (Read; Ephesians 4:11-12)
Ministers of the Gospel must give an account for the sheep which they have taught, shepherded and discipled. Who will give an account for you? (Read; Hebrews 13:17)
Who are you accountable to in your walk with God & if you go wrong who will be there to encourage you, correct you and give you godly perspective? (Read; 1 Thessalonians 5:12)
We are commanded to spur one another on to love and good works, how can we do this if we do not go to a Church and meet with other believers (Read; Hebrews 10:24)
Wisdom is typified by someone who hears, listens and applies truth to their lives. The fool simply ignores counsel and lives their own life.(Read; Matthew 7:24, Proverbs 9:8-9)
Q – But I don’t need others to have a relationship with God. I can be a Christian by myself.
Answer; 1 Corinthians 12:14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. . . The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!”. . . Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Q – I’m too busy to be a part of a Church and hardly have enough time for even myself…..
Answer; God has made clear what your priorities should be but you must now decide if you choose to obey God or not. God did not have to rest on the 7th day after He created the earth and everything in it He did so because He was setting a pattern of 6 days of work and one of rest in what He has done, This rest is seen in us gathering to celebrate the finished work of Christ and Salvation in our lives.
The church provides biblical answers for life’s problems. Communities and families are crumbling all around us today. Our nation is in moral and social chaos. Parents are concerned about their children and their future. The ultimate problems of life cannot be solved by government, laws, money, or even education. Our root problems are spiritual! Bible-believing and preaching churches provide the real answers for problems in our society, marriage & parenting, finances, depression etc.
Christians are to remember Christ in the Lord’s Supper. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper telling us to do this in remembrance of Him, proclaiming His death until He comes again,( Luke 22:19). Christians come together as a church, the body of Christ, to partake of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him. (I Cor. 11:17)
Jesus is coming again for His bride, the church! Just as only those who were in Noah’s ark during the flood were saved so only those who are in Christ and in His church will be saved when He returns.
Q – What should I do now?
Answer; Find a Bible-believing Church that preaches the FULL Gospel and people that are genuine Christians who love God and each other, not because they are perfect but because God is working in them day by day to become more like Jesus. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
________________________________________________________
Still have questions?
If you want to clarify anything else feel free to click on the logo below to ask. We would love to hear from you.
Gospel Community Church is a Reformed Church in Adelaide, An Evangelical Church in Adelaide, A Bible Preaching Church in Adelaide, A Gospel Preaching Church in Adelaide, An expositional preaching Church in Adelaide, An Acts 29 Church in Adelaide, A Gospel Coalition Church in Adelaide the City of Churches.