Why Church?

 

Church conflict is normal...but throw in a couple of lightsabers, and it just gets weird. 

     

     A lot of people do not attend church like they used to for many reasons. Some were hurt by the church, others can’t seem to find “their fit”, others simply gave up because of the drama that can be found in a church. It seems today that we live in a world where having healthy conversations about our differences has divided churches. Church hopping has become a thing for those who can’t find the perfect church to meet their needs.

Hey, I get it! There was a time in my past life that I didn’t attend church, I simply didn’t feel the need to do so. Sleeping in on Sunday mornings was prime down time for me back in the day!

Whatever excuse we can come up with, there are some good reasons as to why we are to attend church. And by the way, there is no perfect church, not one on this side of heaven is perfect! Nor are the people in the church perfect. Yes, Christian folks are to do their best to be Christ-like, so it’s sometimes a head scratcher when things go terribly wrong. Churches are to be hospitals for the spiritually sick. And trust me we all need a spiritual hospital! Maybe we need to adult better and revisit the words grace, mercy, forgiveness, love one another, and communicate well to keep the body of Christ joined together as one. Just a thought.

The following are excerpts on this topic from “Making Wise Choices…the most important life skill to master”, the Bible study that I wrote.

Question: Can you be a Christian and never attend church?

Answer: Yes. Look at the thief on the cross in Luke 23:39-43. He never had a chance to be a part of the church. He was converted while hanging on the cross – he trusted Jesus who was hanging next to him. Those who are homebound cannot physically go to church, they are still Christians. However, if you are a Christian and are abled bodied, you should want to do what Christ asks us to do, attend church.

Question: What do you think a Christian would be missing out on by not choosing to attend a church?

Answer: It would be like marrying a husband or wife and never moving in. You would miss out on the relationship, serving and caring for one another.

Question: What does Hebrews 10:24,25 instruct us to do?

Answer: To meet together, encourage and spur one another on.

Question: The Church is not a place or a building that a person can go to. The Christian people are the Church. God created us with the need for community and companionship. What are some of the benefits of being a part of the Church?

Answer:

• ·         Matthew 18:20 – Where two or three come together Jesus is with us.
• ·       Acts 2:42-47 – The people were devoted to the teachings, to prayer, they were filled with awe, had everything in common, helped whoever was in need, had fellowship, had glad and sincere hearts, found favor with everyone, and the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
• ·       Romans 12:5, 15:6 – They were of one body, one heart, one mouth to glorify God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• ·       1 Corinthians 1:2, 12:12-26 – We are the body of Christ and we each are a part of it. One body, one spirit with equal concern for each other

Question: What do we gain by worshiping with others?

Answer:

• ·         Corporate worship is a way to help us grow (Hebrews 10:19-22)
• ·         It helps to draw us near to Him and brings us into his presence (Matthew 18:20)
• ·         We are following the commands in scripture (Hebrews 10:25)
• ·         We celebrate the privilege of being able to worship together (Psalm 111:1)
• ·         It brings about a thankful heart (Psalms 95:1-2)
• ·         It brings about gladness and joy (Psalm 100:2)

Question: What does God gain?

Answer:

• ·         He gains us (Romans 12:1)
• ·      He gains our time, our fellowship when we worship with pure hearts, concentrating on Him, and He can tell us what he wants (Ezekiel 36:27, John 14:16-17)

Make sure you are committed to a church. It is vital, God thought so or he wouldn’t have set us up with one to begin with. He knows how much trouble we can get into on our own and we need the support, encouragement, and accountability from our like-minded peers.

Our lives should be the statement of what we believe. Acts 2:42-47 states…” the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Beautiful results come from a devoted and loving church.

Debra Lee, Author & Keynote Speaker

Blogger, Life Coach, Business Coach