Christian Fellowship
Do I Have To Go To Church To Be A Christian?
Do I Have To Go To Church To Be A Christian?
The short answer is no. Say what?!?
If you are a believer—you have repented of your sins and follow Jesus—you are the church. You might never step foot inside a church building. However, once the true meaning of church is understood, we learn that believers are meant to join together in regular fellowship because it is a part of God's plan.
People who have no desire to be obedient to God’s plan may, in fact, have a false salvation. Meeting together regularly is God’s plan and believers should want to be a part of His plan. We are admonished in the Bible to meet together. That is our means to carry out God’s will for his church. As long as circumstances allow, we should all be in fellowship.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, — Hebrews 10:23-24 (KJV)
When we meet together so much more can happen than if we stay separated and alone. There is endless potential when we join together as believers. God wants to do in us, and through us, His work, according to His plan, and those who stay away shut the door on all of what God has planned. The epistle Paul discusses in detail God’s plan for us meeting together regularly and his plan can only happen as each part does its work:
Ephesians 4:11-16 (KJV) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Meeting on Sundays is not merely going to church and we shouldn't think of it that way. Remember, the purpose for being involved in a church is to be in the process of becoming equipped for works of service.
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: —Ephesians 4:12 (KJV)
People who fail to become involved are displaying a form of counterproductive selfishness and direct rebellion with God’s plan for those who belong to Him.
And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. —2 Corinthians 5:15 (KJV)
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