reasons to go to church

I try to go to church twice a week.

If you think it is because my church is held in a beautiful building, you are wrong (actually, between the two of us, I refer to it as “the cardboard box”.) If you think it is because all my friends go there, you’re wrong again (I’m usually trying to get them there.) If it is because my parents go there, you’re wrong again (I go without them sometimes.) If you think it’s because of the awesome worship band, the hilarious sermons, the delicious doughnuts, you’re still not getting it.

Reasons I Go to Church:

1. It’s Biblical

“…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.” (Hebrews 10:25) “Do not neglect to meet together” is pretty clear. The church we read about in the book of Acts (the very first Christian church) is not a place people dreaded going to. It was a place where people found hope in every way. Find a church that reflects these early foundations (we’ll talk more about them in a few days) but don’t expect it to be perfect. No church is perfect, but that’s no excuse to neglect.

2. It feeds my passion for Jesus Christ

My church is not, as I said, perfect. And it’s not even run exactly how I would run a church if it were up to me. The staff sometimes makes decisions I disagree with. The pastor sometimes says things that I question. The music is sometimes…better than other times. I’m just being honest. However, when I arrive on Sunday morning with my heart in the right place (which is,  by the way, the hands of God,) I leave filled UP with the Holy Spirit. Being with my brothers and sisters in Christ, hearing what God is teaching them, singing out praises of gratitude to my savior…it all stirs up my passions for Jesus. And this is the ultimate goal while we’re here, yes?

3. I learn

Some pastors and teachers are considered more talented than others, but scripture is scripture. One major reason I still go to church is because I learn more about the character of God. It helps me to see things in a new light. It helps me to put scripture to memory. It encourages me to study scripture more when I get home and continue to seek the Lord.

4. Fellowship is important

I firmly believe that God never, ever intended for us to do this whole “take up your cross and follow me” thing alone. We were made for community. Not just buddies, but blood-bought brothers. If you forsake the fellowship, you are squelching your lifeline. There are so many things-encouragement, confession, discussion, discernment, discipline, mentorship, counseling-just to name a few, that cannot happen without fellowship. Don’t cheat yourself.

5. Tithing is Biblical

You can argue that you support The Body financially by giving to another ministry. Giving to other ministries is great, I do the same. But if you are taking from the church, you should be giving to the church. And you should be taking. Does that makes sense?

6. They support me

The people I know at church are really my good friends. They pray over me on Sunday and continue to pray for me throughout the week. They listen to me. They offer guidance and help. They check in on me. We share things. We grow together. It’s a beautiful thing.

7. They need me

And I’m not being arrogant when I say that. As a matter of fact, they need you just as much. The church is not the big pile of money and eager, life-long volunteers under a steeple. Your local church has needs. If you were saved by grace, you are part of The Church (capital letters: the family of God) and if you live where you do, it is because a sovereign God put you there. Serve your church. Give money. Give time. Work in the nursery. Clean up. Counsel. Teach. Sing. Play that guitar that’s gathering dust at your parents’ house. You do have a gift (1 Corinthians 12) and you were meant to use it. Don’t cheat your church.

Note:

If you have a place that you go regularly to pray with other followers of Christ, where you greet one another with encouragement and teach one another the scriptures, where you worship and sing praise, if you confess your sins to one another and practice forgiveness, if you share with one another and build one another up and yet you do not call this “church,” so be it. The word is not the point. As I am often reminded, The Church is us, not a building. The members of the body, the saints, Christians. However, what good is a hand apart from the rest of the body? What good is an eye or ear sitting alone at home while the rest of the parts are together, trying to function without the missing part? The body needs every part God made. Don’t make The Body an amputee.

(You might also want to consider if you are in a place where you are submitting to spiritual authority such as Hebrews 13:17 suggests and tithing. Church isn’t just people hanging out.)

Sleeping in is nice, introverts exist, hypocrisy happens, but church is a Biblical mandate. Get up, get your Bible and get to church.