For believers, there is no substitute for attending church. Besides something
that pleases God, it is necessary for a believer’s spiritual well-being.
For shut-ins or invalids who aren’t able to go to church, the ministries
on radio or TV might be the only kind of fellowship or spiritual nourishment
that they get. God certainly understands the circumstances of these people,
and recognizes the sincerity of their hearts. However, it is a different
matter for those who could attend church but are too lazy, or put other
things such as entertainment and amusements before God, or who harbor bitterness
or indifference toward other believers.
It is important to attend church for the following reasons:
(1) It is an Expression of our
Love for God.
Going to church is a visible, tangible expression of our love and worship toward God. It is where we can gather with other believers to publicly bear witness of our faith and trust in God, something that is required of all Christians (Matt. 10:32-33) -- and it is where we can bring Him offerings of praise, thanks, and honor, which are pleasing to Him. The psalmist wrote, “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You” (Psa. 22:22). People are often motivated toward church attendance for how it will bless themselves, however we should remember that the primary purpose of the corporate gathering is to bring “service” to the Lord as a blessing to Him (Psa. 134:2). Indeed, the Lord is deserving of our time and energy to honor Him with our service of devotion. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:11).
(2) It builds up our Spiritual
Strength.
Receiving the preaching and teaching of the Word of God increases our
faith and builds us up spiritually. Every believer knows what it is to face
spiritual conflicts to their faith, and must realize the importance of being
fed spiritually so that they can overcome the challenges. Paul states that
Christians face a wrestling match with the Devil and his evil spiritual
forces, and warns that the church must put on spiritual armor for protection,
as it will take everything at our disposal to stand (Eph. 6:10-18). How
important that we take every opportunity available to receive ministry and
strength from God’s Word. “So then faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
(3) It brings a special visitation
of the Lord’s Presence.
There is the promise of a special visitation of the Lord’s presence
whenever two or more gather specifically in the name of Jesus. By implication,
this means whenever “Jesus” is the object of gathered prayer,
worship, praise, preaching, etc. Even though Jesus resides within the heart
of every believer, he honors a gathering in his name by coming in the “midst,”
with his power, awareness, and anointing. In such a gathering, Christ is
able to do things in hearts that he may not at any other time. The scripture
says that God inhabits the praise of His people (Psa. 22:3), and in such
an atmosphere the Holy Spirit will often manifest spiritual gifts that minister
to the body of Christ. “For where two or three are gathered together
in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).
(4) It provides fellowship with
other Christians.
Gathering together also has compounded importance to the relationship
of the Christian brethren. The Bible makes it clear that a right relationship
with God requires a “vertical” and “horizontal” alignment
— that is, we must have a vertical fellowship with God and a horizontal
fellowship with other believers. It is not possible to love God and refuse
to love the brethren. If you have a problem loving other Christians, you
have a problem in your relationship with God. Scripture warns us that unforgiveness
toward others will void God’s forgiveness of our own sins (Matt. 6:15).
John wrote, “He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother,
is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light,
and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:9-10).
One of the most important reasons that we go to church is to practice
love toward the brethren in the form of fellowship. The Bible clearly shows
that if we have a right relationship with God, we have fellowship with others
believers. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses
us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Keeping ourselves in love and harmony
with other believers keeps us humble before God so that Christ’s blood
can continue to cleanse us from our sins.
(5) It is an act of obedience to
God.
Not to be forgotten, going to church is also a matter of obeying God’s
Word. The writer of the Hebrew epistle tells us not to forsake assembling
together, implying that continued absence can lead to willful sin. “And
let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,” (Heb. 10:24-26). Once
again, we are reminded that a great part of the purpose of the gathering
is for the consideration of our brethren, coming together to help motivate
and encourage one another. This is a responsibility charged to every believer.
To reject church attendance, is a rejection of one of the sacred duties
of the believer. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not
do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
(6) It provides accountability
to spiritual leadership.
More strong evidence that proves that we’re to be a part of a church
fellowship, is that we’re told to submit to the authority of spiritual
leaders (within the boundaries of God’s Word). “Obey those who
rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as
those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief,
for that would be unprofitable for you” (Heb. 13:17). God designed
this system of accountability for the progress and protection of His flock.
Obviously, this really isn’t possible unless we are a part of an organized
fellowship which has identified elders, pastors, or leaders. It is easy
to see that one cannot genuinely be under submission to a TV pastor who
has never met you. Nor is it possible to be under submission by visiting
a different church each week. The Bible tells us to know them that are over
us in the Lord (1 Thes. 5:12). Submission necessitates a commitment and
relationship to a local body of believers and to their spiritual leaders.
(7) It combines our spiritual strength
in prayer.
The Bible indicates that agreement in prayer with other believers has
special favor with God. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree
on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by
My Father in heaven” (Matt. 18:19). There is multiplied strength in
the combined faith of God’s people, and it is clear that greater spiritual
gains can be realized through corporate prayer and worship. This agrees
with how God has historically blessed the union of His people in battle
against their enemies. “Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred
of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the
sword before you” (Lev. 26:8).
(8) It honors the Lord’s Day.
The fourth commandment of the law that God gave Moses was to set aside
the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as a holy day to the Lord. “Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Ex. 20:8). This was, and will always
remain, the official Sabbath. However, after Jesus rose from the dead on
the first day of the week, Sunday, the early Christians began meeting together
on this day as well as with the Jewish community in the synagogues on the
Sabbath. History indicates that due to the enmity of the orthodox Jews toward
the Christian Jews in their midst, the Jewish Christians were eventually
ostracized. And although they were no longer bound to a rigid code of laws
(Gal. 3:10-11, Col. 2:16), it is believed that they came to view Sunday
as a combined observance of the Sabbath and the resurrection day of Jesus
(Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2). This day of Christian worship came to be called
the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1:10), a day to fellowship in celebration of the
resurrection, to worship, pray and study the Word together.
Today, the Christian Jew or gentile, is free from the bondage of the
old law. The indwelling of God’s spirit has brought a new way for Christians
to fulfill the desires of God through His love (Gal. 5:18, Rom. 13:8-10).
However, the new covenant does not invalidate the relevance of the ten commandments
as they pertained to God’s wishes for His people. As much as it remains
God’s desire for man not to kill, steal or commit adultery, God is
still very much pleased for believers to honor Him on a day reserved for
Him, out of their love for Him and His people.
This article is copyrighted © by Dale A. Robbins, 1996, and is a publication of Victorious Publications, 13010 State Hwy 49, Grass Valley, CA 95949, and is used with permission. You may download for personal use as long as you retain credit to the author. Obtain permission before reproducing for any reason, by calling (916) 273-8475, or e-mail us at Victorious@comports.com. Unless otherwise stated, all scripture references were taken from The New King James Bible, © Thomas Nelson Inc., 1982.