I know many Christians who don't attend a church and they're still what I consider to be true followers of Christ. I feel that they would be hugely blessed and would grow more as well as have more support and empowerment through the body of Christ if they had a church family. I'm a very solid church goer and it wasn't until the last few years that I allowed myself to skip a week once in a while for vacation or whatever. It's hard for me to wrap my head around someone NOT going to church, but I know the church has hurt a lot of people and that there are so many bad ones out there.
I believe if we look in the Scriptures and if we were to ask Jesus, the answer would be "No, it's not optional" because there are many times where you see the teaching in public places, gatherings of believers...just think, if no church, there would be no Acts 2, no feeding of 5,000, no baptism at river, no healings. So personally, I would say it's not an option for me, that it is something that is an integral part of my walk with Christ, and even more than that, it is a privilege that many wish they could have. But for those who have been severely hurt by the church or who are unsure about attending, I am trying to be more compassionate and understanding. I don't see them as less of a Christian for that. I do feel that they are missing out, and they don't even know it. I also believe it is very important for children to be in church and to have friends in the faith, both of their own age and in peers. I just feel like there's so much that a good church offers and a lot of it has to do with relationship with other people, something we were born to need.
Then of course you have that famous Hebrews 10:25 verse that speaks about NOT forsaking the assembling together. Some people feel that assembling together could even be a group online, and I have to say that I have had some really great experiences in groups online, maybe even more than I have had in groups in person. On the other hand, we were created to be connected - as a family - and not to be separated by screens, distance, or even illness. The point being, if you're ill, the body of Christ has an obligation to visit you, to bring comfort to you, even to lay hands on and pray for you. I know there are so many bad churches out there. And that is why so many people are afraid of going to church. But there are so many good ones out there too. You just have to look. It's worth it. I don't think it is a heaven or hell thing but I do feel that it is an integral part of the walk with Christ...that bonding with other believers - in person - is very important.
Benefits to church:
- Truth based teaching that can jump start your week
- Having communion - something that we are commanded to do regularly
- Worshiping in union which can often be a little slice of heaven and puts a smile on God's face
- Relationship with other believers, which leads to encouragement, support, prayers, being there when someone has a need (such as when a family member is sick, someone needs a ride, someone needs a friend to just be there, etc.), coming together to defeat the enemy, and so much more
- Opportunities for children to hear the gospel and to see it in action and to be a part of something
- Faith building opportunities to serve in God's house
- Opportunity to enjoy the privilege that many risk their lives for
- An act of sacrifice (and perhaps obedience?) for God - giving up a couple of hours on a Sunday morning to do something for Him, when most would prefer to sleep or do something that pleasures them
- Opportunity to connect in small groups during the week that can help people in more specific stages of life, such as groups for mothers, fathers, women, men, young adults, emotional abuse survivors, new believers, etc.
- Extra eyes to help you stay on the straight and narrow - even though this is a hard one, having other true believers get to know us means that we will have extra eyes and ears that might help see something we can't see and will help us stay on the straight and narrow - this is a big Biblical principle
- Insight into what is going on beyond our little bubble - often we have no idea what other countries are enduring just to have church or to stay alive for that matter...churches that support missions around the world can give eyes into that and create a more prayerful, faith based, grateful attitude
- Opportunity to be in a place of safety, healing, growth, and above all worship of Jesus Christ - most of us aren't surrounded by people and an environment that is worshiping Jesus Christ on a daily basis, so being together for church can create that place
- So so so many more things...
Realistically, church was not created for the people. Church was created by people who followed Jesus, to worship him, to have the teachings of God taught, to exhort and build each other up. People were HUNGRY and would travel just to see these men who were teaching. They didn't care about the music, the way people were dressed, or how cool the pastor was. They wanted the truth and were so hungry they didn't care what it took.
Now in this day and age, church is formulated to be more about what is appealing to people. And I have no problem with that. But I think if we're to look at the Scriptures, we should have that same hunger for God...to just be in that place with other believers...because doing so helps us to grow and mature. A true believer will always have times of downfall, where they don't have that passion...but as a righteous man does, he falls seven times and rises an eighth. And that's the passion, and COMpassion we need to see in our churches. People who aren't afraid to give up a little time from their personal life, to go worship God. People who not only aren't afraid of it, but are desiring to, if it means being in God's house.
Yes, it is true that where there are two or three gathered, Christ is there. It is true that church can be held anywhere. But if you don't take that time out and give it to God, and connect with other believers, how can God function in your life the way that He designed? He designed us to need that...yet the avoidance of such prohibits Him from fully revealing Himself to us. I say that because everybody has a gift or two that God gave them. None of us has them all. We need the other gifts, to help build us up and challenge us. Also, others need the gift that we have. So by avoiding gathering together in a public place, in some ways it's not only inhibiting growth, but it's also inhibiting others from benefiting from what you have, that God gave you to use. And yes, God CAN do anything, literally anything, so He can/could reveal Himself in fullness without others, but He created things the way He did so that we needed connection, communication, and communion.
So why would anyone NOT want to be in church? I know the answer is that there is a lot of hurt and hypocrisy, and I understand that. I have been hurt too, several times. But yet, there are people in other lands who risk their lives and walk miles in horrible conditions just to get to church...yet us Americans have become so lethargic and apathetic in some ways. Like I said, not a heaven or hell thing. But really, where is the passion? Where is the desire to be with God's people? Where is the desire to grow? Where is the desire to support others, to connect with others in the community? Where is the desire to be a part of something that can go out into the community and help win over others for Christ? There's so little passion now...and that...that is what we need to get back.
