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"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."
(Hebrews 10:25)
This is the strongest verse in the New Testament on the importance of going to church. The writer of Hebrews is telling them in the first century and us today in the 21st century that it is God's will for you to go and be a part of a local church.
Church, like marriage, is God's big idea. Of course, when we humans get involved, we mess things up and do not live up to God's expectations for us. But thank the Lord that He gives grace. I think most problems in marriages and churches would be solved if individuals decided to be completely sold out to the relationship. In every church, people get hurt and leave upset. They set out to find another church, or they decide to not attend anywhere. But the bad experiences do not negate the concept. Marriage, like being part of a local church, is still God's design for us. Some will remain single, and that is perfectly within God's will for some people. But all of us should be involved in a local church where we worship the Lord with His people, hear the Word of God, minister to each other, use our spiritual gifts, and represent the Lord as salt and light in a dark world. The New Testament knows nothing of a Lone Ranger, go-it-alone mentality that so many professing Christians have today. Marriage, like the local church, is a sanctifying act. You must practice sacrifice and remove selfishness. Being a Christian and not going to a local church is like being married but never going home to your spouse.
Pastor Charles Stanley said that many Christians say they do not need the local church; there is too much conflict, and many professing Christians are hypocrites. True, the church is full of hypocrites; I am one of them and so are you. At times, every Christian fails to live up to the name of Christian. Therefore, we need to repent and be restored to God, and that happens beautifully in the local church! Stanley asked, what is the opinion of Almighty God related to the Church? Jesus shed His blood and purchased our salvation on the cross. He intends for us to walk with Him, gather with His people, and go out and witness to a lost world.
Much of the New Testament was written to local churches. The New Testament deals with many problems in the church. Paul writes to instruct and help them. To say the church is unimportant or unnecessary is a popular mindset but certainly not a biblical one. It is easy for people to reply that they do not need the church. They claim that they can live their Christian life apart from what dominates so much of the Bible and the world today. But is that the will of God? What is the implication if you can live without the church? The implication is that God messed up or Jesus made a mistake, and we know that is not true.
The bride of Christ, the body of Christ, the ekklesia of God; there is nothing on this earth like the church of the living God. Jesus gives us spiritual gifts so we can use them for the edification of His church. Jesus is intently observant of His gathered people, the church. As we read in Revelation 2-3, our Lord knows and cares deeply about His people. Do you have that same kind of love and passion for your local church? Do you have a local church where you attend and serve? If not, ask the Lord to help you change that, and start this Sunday!
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