I've been asked: Why Should I Go to Church?

This question is usually asked in one of two contexts.  One, from a non Christian who wants to understand why we, as believers, go to church.  The other from believers who think that since they have a personal relationship with the Lord, they have no need to attend church every week.  They might say, "I do church at home." or "I worship the Lord in my own way."  I hope that in my answer I will address both sides of the question.

You've probably heard the phrase, "Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. (or going to McDonalds makes you a hamburger LOL)"  While I do understand the point they are trying to make, there is a slight flaw.  While a person cannot become a car or a hamburger, they CAN become a Christian.  If you are not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and have not accepted Him as your personal Savior, there is no better place to move towards a relationship with Him than church.  If perhaps you believe in God, but you still have questions or concerns, a good Bible teaching church where people are authentic is the perfect place to get the answers you are looking for.  Many people have been hurt by the church or had bad experiences, and it can be difficult to find the right one, but once you do, you will see it is worth the search.

For those who already are born again Christians, I believe attending church consistently is vital.   But let's see what the Word of God says about it. 

1) Believers are to have fellowship
Acts 2:42, Philippians 2:1, 1 John 1:3, Acts 1:15, Hebrews 10:25, 1 Corinthians 11:18
While there have been times when I have experienced sweet fellowship over a cup of coffee, a dinner party or a park play date (and I do encourage these additional times with other believers), nothing compares with gathering together with a multitude of like minded people worshiping together and encouraging one another.  While I have definitely been ministered to at church, there have also been times that the Lord has used to me reach out to someone else.  Once I remember a young girl that I had never seen before was weeping while the congregation was singing in worship.  I noticed that she got up and left during a song and as I felt the prompting of the Spirit to follow her, I was able to offer her a hug and a prayer.  Nothing earth shattering, but an opportunity that would not have happened without the gathering together.

2) Believers are to have unity
Psalm 133:1, John 17:22-23, 1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:1-3, Ephesians 4:13, Colossians 3:14
If Christians were not meant to assemble regularly, there would be no call for unity.  But since we are expecting to come together for teaching and worship, the Lord gives us directions to strive for unity and how to accomplish this.  We can count on there being conflicts in the church, but when we aim for unity, we can overcome them.

3) Believers are to use their spiritual gifts as many different members of one body
Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:11-16
Some are called to be teachers, some to encourage, some evangelists. ALL are called to use their specific gifts "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ". Ephesians 4:12  Just as you have many different parts of your body, so is the body of Christ.  If you were missing an arm, or an ear, even a little pinky toe, you would not be complete.  The body of Christ is not complete without your active participation.

4) Believers are to love, encourage, comfort, build up, pray for, serve, be kind to, forgive, speak spiritual songs to, be subject to, be devoted to, give preference to, accept, admonish, and be at peace with one another.
1 Thessalonians 3:12, Hebrews 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:11, James 5:16, Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:32, Ephesians 5:19, Ephesians 5:21, Romans 12:10, Romans 15:7, Romans 15:14, Mark 9:50
This is pretty self explanatory.  How can we do these things if we are not together?!

One more reason

How to stay safe in the world today:

1.Avoid riding in automobiles because they are responsible for 20% of

all fatal accidents.

2. Do not stay home because 17% of all accidents occur in the home.

3. Avoid walking on streets or sidewalks because 14% of all accidents

occur to pedestirans.

4. Avoid traveling by air, rail or water, because 16% of all accidents

involve these forms of transportation.

5. Of the remaining 33%, 32% of all deaths occur in hospitals.  Above

all else, avoid hospitals.

You will be pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in

worship services in church, and these are usually related to previous

physical disorders.  Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for

you to be at any given point in time is at church!

Bible study is safe too.  The percentage of deaths during Bible study is

even less.

FOR SAFETY'S SAKE - Attend church and read your bible...

IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

hahahahaha

In all seriousness, I hope I've given you plenty of Biblical basis for regular church attendance.  But I'd also like to share that in my own personal experience, belonging to a local church body has been a very important part of my life.  Getting plugged in by joining Bible studies and small groups, attending church events, serving in ministry...all of these things have helped me grow in my relationship with the Lord and I can't imagine the last 10 years of my walk with Him without the encouragement and accountability I have received through my brothers and sisters in my church body.

Whether you are an unbeliever still searching for answers, or a Christian who has been trying to go it alone, I encourage you to find a church where you feel comfortable and where they open up the Word of God and teach from it every week. Allow yourself to truly become a part of the body of Christ.

"Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.   For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.  Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?   And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart." Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

~Dawn

Several Women have asked me: "Doesn't the Bible degrade women?"

First of all, let me state the obvious.  Something so obvious, it goes without saying, but, well, I'm going to say it anyway.  God loves His people (John 3:16).  All His people.  And since women are people, yes, that means He loves women too.  (Galatians 3:28)

Having said that, let's address why perhaps some women might feel as if the Bible is degrading to them.  Or perhaps makes them out to be less than men.  Probably the most commonly used basis for this is the first directive for women regarding their relationship with men.  In Genesis 2:18, when the creation of men and women is being described, the Lord says, "It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a helper suitable for him."  Typically, women think that because God says that the woman will be a helper for the man, this means that she is in some way inferior to him.  However, the Hebrew word used here for help,ezer, is the same word used for God throughout the Old Testament.  (Specifically Exodus 18:4, Psalm 10:14, Psalm 20:2, Psalm 33:20, Psalm 70:5, Psalm 72:12-14, and Psalm 86:17)  Jehovah Ezer=The Lord our Help.  I'm pretty sure that if the Lord uses a word to describe Himself, it is not inferior in ANY way.  In fact, it actually means the kind of help that you would not be able to do without.  Picture someone with a broken leg trying to walk without the use of crutches.  The crutches are not just a "help" they are vital.  Since God says that man alone is not good, he NEEDS a helper.  He could not do it without us.  But notice that this verse is directed at man and wife, meaning that a married man has been given a helper suitable (appropriate, befitting, pertinent, proper, sufficient, useful) specifically for him.  It does not mean that all women are to be helpers to all men.  What it does mean is that when a man is married to a woman who is fulfilling her God given role as a necessary helper, He is on His way to fulfilling God's purpose for the both of them. 

Another commonly misunderstood section of Scripture is found in Ephesians chapter 5, where the passage says that  wives are to submit to their own husband and to respect him.  While this may seem demeaning to some, it has nothing to do with a woman's abilities.  The charge to be subject to your husband as a leader of the home is simply for purposes of order.  Just as a corporation can't have two CEOs, a house can't have two heads.  And since Ephesians 5:23 says that the man is the head of his wife, she for the sake of order, is to submit to his leadership.  Think of two vehicles on the highway, in two separate lanes, approaching a merge to one lane.  One of the vehicles is a small sedan and one is a semi truck.  One would think that the smaller car would naturally be the one to yield, but what if the truck happens to be 3 feet behind the car.  The fact that the truck is bigger and stronger has absolutely no consequence, because of it's position.  Just as a woman can be a very capable, strong, intelligent person, but because of her position, she will be the one to defer.  It might seem like she is getting a raw deal, but looking back just 2 verses, before any of the male/female specific directives are given, we are told to submit one to another.  Meaning that when two people are married, they are now partners, considering the needs of the other before their own.  When it is necessary in the course of typical events in marriage, for one to yield to the other, the woman is the one who will then submit to her husband's lead.  This creates not only order, but harmony.

One final concern is in a small number of stories in the Bible where women are treated with complete and utter disdain.  While these stories are disturbing, if you were to read them, you would see that in no way does God condone this behavior or mindset.  These are simply narratives being told as they happened.  Just as if I was to tell you an account of a bully on the playground, it doesn't mean I think bullying is okay, all I am is the messenger.  I will address some of these stories specifically in the future, so for now suffice it to say that God is on the side of the oppressed (Isaiah 61) and when a woman is mistreated, God is as (actually more) upset as we are.  

"A woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)

~Dawn