Today is the Lord's Day. I hope you will find encouragement, consolation and comfort in a group of like-minded believers.
Hebrews 10:25 (NIV)
Some Christians feel they don't need to go to church. I just can't buy it. I think the Word plainly says don't give up going - and the closer the end-times appear, the more you should go!
Honestly, there is nothing in the Bible that says, 'to be a Christian you must attend a church'. While it does say that fellowship is important, a person can be a functioning part of the Body of Christ w/out being in constant organized-church attendance. It isn't about religion, after all, but it is about a relationship with Jesus Christ.
ReplyDeleteChurch can be very helpful, but it isn't a salvation condition, and God can meet anyone right where they are.
I don't think that Jerralea anywhere suggests that in order to be saved you must attend a church, after all we are saved by God's grace and not by our good works, for example "going to church".
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, attending church is important in the life of a follower of Christ as it helps us with various aspects of our Christian walk, such as: fellowship, exercising the gifts of the Spirit, developing our spiritual maturity through the learning of God's Word and ministering to others through the opportunities the church offers.
The Word of God teaches us that as followers of Christ we should have the desire to do these things. If attending church is not important in the life of a follower of Christ, than either something is wrong with the church that person is attending or something is wrong with their attitude about church.
Jerralea thanks for sharing this and stirring our hearts and minds so that we may enter into conversations with one another about the things of God which are so important.
Love ya my sister in Christ :)
Jenny, thank you for your comment. I didn't realize how the phrase, "Some say they don't need to go to church to be a Christian," came across. I'm changing it to read "Some Christians feel they don't need to go to church."
ReplyDeleteAs Joyce Meyer says, "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than sitting in the garage makes you a car." We are saved by grace alone. If there was anything we could do to earn our salvation, Christ wouldn't have had to die on the cross.
However, I do stand by the rest of my post because I do think that Hebrews 10:25 means we should be assembling with other believers. I don't think it is a suggestion. You are right in that it does not have to be organized-church attendance. The early believers met regularly (even daily) in each others homes. Home cell groups, even home bible studies, can meet the need of accountability and encouragement with other like-minded believers.
You are also right in saying that it's not about religion, it's about relationship! My whole point of my encouragement series is that we also need relationships with other believers that uplift and edify and keep us grounded in what the word really says.
God bless you, and thanks for commenting. The bible says "iron sharpens iron," and I love when other believers help keep us sharp!
Jerralea
Thanks, Jerralea :)
ReplyDeleteOne of the toughest parts of online communication is that we can't hear one another's tone: I hope that I didn't *sound* offensive ~ I was just relaying my heart.
Right now my husband and I are in a season of not attending a big, organized church, but the desire of our heart is to some day soon be a part of one that has a real focus on Jesus and The Word as 100% truth... Will you pray for us to be led to that place?
Sincerely,
Jenny