Question: "I am
a Christian, but I don’t see the need of going to church. I can worship
God when I am out in the woods enjoying the beauty of His creation or when
I am fishing on the lake. Friends have told me that I need to go to
church. Why?"
There is no
question that you can worship God and the beauty of His creation in the
woods and on the lake. I have enjoyed great times with the Lord praying as
I walk through the woods myself.
God anticipated
that we would ask such questions as this, so He has already given us an
answer in His Word. I would suggest you turn to Hebrews 10:19-25, the "let
us" passages and especially verses 24 & 25 which I quote below from the
NASB. Notice that he is talking to "believers" as described in verse 19.
". . .and let
us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds not
forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near."
One of the
things we learn from Scripture is that we cannot be Christians in
isolation. God has a "one another plan" spread throughout the New
Testament.
Here is a part
of His "one another plan:" encouraging one another to love and good deeds,
and you can only do this as you come together, or as the writer of Hebrews
says, "not forsaking our own assembling together." Notice, too, that this
is not a suggestion but a command to us.
On a practical
basis, let me suggest why I believe that it’s important for you to be in
church.
1. Church is a
staff meeting and Jesus Christ has called us to be a team and to
meet with Him. Christ is head of the church, and we won’t feel a part of
the staff at all if we aren’t there—we would be of little use to the
team. Instead of a staff meeting, you could also consider it like a
"huddle" in football with Jesus as the quarterback.
2. We need the
church because it’s a court hearing. There are things we have
done during the week that are wrong and the Lord knows it! He wants a
chance to straighten us out. We’re accountable to the Judge of all of
life for our actions.
3. The church
is a family reunion. Jesus said: "Who is my family? Those who do
My will." (Mark 3:33,35). We are a family rejoicing with one another,
crying with one another, helping one another. We need each other’s
support. We have to depend on each other.
4. We need the
church because it is a classroom. We are preparing for a mission.
We are on an extended course of study. For the rest of our lives, we are
enrolled in a course of Christian discipleship. Each week builds on the
one before.
5. The church
can be a hideout. The sanctuary is a place to get away from the
"busy-ness" of the world. It’s a mini-retreat for us. It is a place to
relax, to focus our thoughts on things above, to worship God.
6. The church
is a billboard. Sunday morning is a time for us to proclaim to
everyone in our community that God is supreme in our lives. As our
neighbors see us get up week after week and go to church "all dressed
up", they can tell Who has priority in our lives.
7. The church
is a victory celebration. Jesus left the empty tomb. We can
celebrate His resurrection together. We set aside special days in the
year to celebrate veterans, birthdays of famous persons, etc., we should
set aside at least one day a week to celebrate the greatest victory of
all, Jesus’ triumph over death and Satan. There also is the promise of
His return to some day take us unto Himself.
8. We need the
church because it is a fellowship, a time spent with our Father.
We are children of God, and He is our loving Father. He holds us in His
arms and delights to spend time with us, and we should want to be there,
with others, enjoying that fellowship.
Why do we need
the church? For all of the above reasons, and many more that others might
add. These reasons cannot fully happen if we attempt to be Christians in
isolation.
I have the
privilege of being part of a church that fits the above description so
well. I hope and pray that you can find one as well.
