Do We Have To Go To Church?
The Bible Tells Us To:
There are many passages that speak to the importance of Christians being involved in a local church. The one that always sticks out in my mind is Hebrews 10:24-25. The writer of Hebrew states, “And 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.” There it is in the Bible; we are called to be meeting together. At the end of the day as Christians that should be the end of it, the Bible says to do it, so we go to church. However, the Bible shows us more benefits, and positives of being in a community of local believers.
You Can’t Do It On Your Own:
1 Corinthians 12:12-20 discusses the idea that living the Christian life is not a solo sport. Paul says, “12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ…For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body… 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. Paul has made it clear that it has made us all different. We are then called to come together and through are individuality make up one body with the goal of bringing honor and glory to God. If you played football, and you tried to play a whole team by yourself you would lose. The Christian life is the same way. The Lord has given us churches to encourage and guide us.
God Created The Church For A Purpose: (us being a part of it is part of the purpose)
The Church is not something that just accidentally popped up, but it is how God uses us (Christians) to live for him. We as Christians are called to love the Lord with everything we have. (Luke 10:27) The church is designed to not only help us grow in that, but also that we may transform our communities for the Lord. This point is shown is Ephesians 2:19-22, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Paul shows in this verse the dual purpose that we have as Christians and Church members. We are to grow in our faith, and let that faith be shown to the world. In this, the church was established to under the banner of loving the Lord and making his name known.
For Parents Regarding This Topic:
If you are a parent, what do you do regarding this topic? The two biggest things we are called to as parents is to model what it looks like to be a church member. Our children are watching us to see what it looks like to be an adult who goes to church. Therefore, as parents we should be involved in our churches, not just in a passive way, but actively. The second things as parents we should be doing is showing our students that church is a priority. There are so many things today that keep us busy. If we allow these things to come between us and church, our students will see this and will live this out as adults.
For Students Regarding This Topic:
Don’t fight your parents on going to church, it may seem like most Sundays, and Wednesday you are being forced to do this. They want you to go to church because it means something to them. They care about you, and they care about God. Therefore, instead of getting annoyed see it from their perspective and try as the Bible says and honor them. In the same vein, let yourself enjoy church. When our parents make us do something we have a tendency to dislike it on principle. If you come into church with an open mind, you will hopefully find a community who loves you and wants to get to know you.