The alarm clock went off at 5am. Agnes sluggishly opened her eyes and got out of bed. She stretched and mumbled something about how good the weather was for sleeping. She moved across the room where Tola laid at the top tier of the bunk bed.
“Wake up sleepy-head! We can’t be late for church today.”
Tola stirred and pulled the cover over her head. Agnes tapped her more violently. “You didn’t go last week, remember ?” “I studied my Bible and prayed after all. That’s what matters! I’m too tired to go to church today“,
Tola said yawning. “I’ll stream the service online today but I’ll go next week. Promise!“
I guess you already know how that story went. Yes, you guessed right! She didn’t go to church that week or the week after.
If there was a book titled, ‘How to be Christian but not go to church‘, it’ll sell sadly. You know why? Well, I don’t know why exactly but I know it’s somewhere between :
People not knowing the essence of going to church & Always wanting to go down the easy work-free road in life.
“After all, I’m the church“, they say and quote 1 Corinthians 3:16 to buttress their point; “I am temple of God and God’s Spirit dwells in me“.
No doubt, you are God’s temple and His Spirit dwells in you but God also instructed that you fellowship with other believers as a church.
“24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV
In this post, I’ll be showing you several truths. You will find out if and why you need to go to church. As always, the Bible will be our main reference as the Word of God is our standard as Christians not what we think or feel.
Let’s dive right in.
What is the church?
The church is made up of God’s people. It is the gathering of believers in Christ. The physical building is not the church but allows believers to come together, fellowship and worship God.
So eventually, you see that the question should be “Who is the church?“
We are the church!
“For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them”
Matthew 18:20 AMP
Before now, the early church assembled together. They fellowshipped, ate together, worshipped God and encouraged each other. It was included in the Bible as a template for us in our day and time. We are to come together, fellowship and worship God as one body just like the early church.
P.S: I’m not trying to downplay the place of personal fellowship and communion. There has to be a balance though.
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity* —47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
Acts 2:46-47 NLT
Why you should go to a local church
- You need the church to grow. Studying your Bible and praying everyday as good as those are aren’t enough to maintain growth. You need those doses of God’s Word, prayer, and regular fellowship with God and others to maintain growth and stay in God’s will. Heb. 10:24-25
- You are not the church. The church is a group of believers in Christ so there’s no way that you, alone are the church. Rom. 12:4-5
- God encourages community. On your own, you are prone to fall out of the Way. When you don’t have people who share the same faith as you, you can easily fall into temptations, get discouraged and probably leave the faith. God didn’t design for you to walk alone in this journey of faith, He encourages community and you should embrace it as His obedient child.
Conclusion
Please join a local church. Enough of the online services and personal fellowship only.
“I’ll stream the service online you might say“.
No! You might end up multitasking and not fully concentrate on the service.
Instead, go to church. Actively participate in your local church.
Maybe you’ve been hurt or disappointed by church people. Well, the church isn’t perfect. The church is made up of imperfect people, coming together to be made perfect by God. Though the church may be flawed, it doesn’t change the truth that fellowshipping with the church is important.
You see this perfection? It won’t stop until Jesus returns so, prayerfully try joining a local church again.
Why do you think people don’t go to church?
Please let me know in the comment section as I always love to hear from you.
I hope you’ve been inspired. Don’t forget to share on your social media platforms.
If there was a book titled, ‘How to be Christian but not go to church‘, it’ll sell sadly.
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#gloryinspires
No doubt, you are God’s temple and His Spirit dwells in you but God also instructed that you fellowship with other believers as a church.
Click to Tweet
#gloryinspires
Though the church may be flawed, it doesn’t change the truth that fellowshipping with the church is important.
Click to Tweet
#gloryinspires
Gloryinspires 