This is a question I've been asked by some friends who profess to be Christians...why go to church? Why does it matter so long as I love God? Isn't my faith an individual thing?
Their arguments against it typically mention the fact that going to church doesn't provide salvation and that it's not required to maintain salvation or relationship with Christ. In fact, they often point to the fact that the church is filled with people who are no better (and, in fact, are often worse) people than those outside of the church (this is usually intermixed with ranting against "organized religion").
So, with the realization that the people inside the church are still only people, and with the fact that you don't "have" to go to church, why not just get some extra sleep? or get some extra stuff done at home? or go out and do something more fun than sit in a chair and listen to someone talk about the Bible?
The arguments they bring up are certainly true, but they don't affect the reason to go to church at all. You see, the reason to go to church has nothing to do with those people, but what you do with those people has everything to do with your reasons to go to church.
To understand why attending church is a big deal, we need to start with one of the basic principle of a Christian...loving God.
Now, anyone who has ever been in a relationship of any kind knows that love shows itself in action. If you love your friend, you go out of your way for them. If you love your significant other, you sacrifice your own desires for theirs. Many couples have a scheduled "date night"that they do everything they can not to miss. Even with your cat/dog/animal-of-your-choosing, you take care of them and go above and beyond their basic needs, because you love them (even when it's inconvenient).
Even more, when something is important to your friend/SO/beloved creature, that something becomes important to you, right?
On the opposite end, you know someone does not love you if they constantly tear you down or avoid spending time with you. It's even more clear if they hurt you constantly. Often, we call people who are like this to people around them "toxic." This same idea is talked about in Matthew 7:15-20, where it points out that you'll know a false prophet by their "fruit", or the results of their actions.
This seems like pretty obvious common-sense stuff, right?
So then, for the Christian, the Bible makes it clear that if you love God, you will strive to obey His commandments (John 14:15). Loving God is shown in obedience (even when you don't want to). If someone doesn't love God, they don't try and obey His commandments and it shows up in the "fruits" of their actions.
With all of that said, the Bible makes it clear that gathering together with other believers, encouraging each other, and worshiping God together is important. Assemble together to stir up love and good works. Exhort (meaning, strongly encourage) each other more and more!
So, professing to be a Christian, that means I am professing to love God. The proof of my love for God (or lack thereof) is in my actions, specifically the striving to obey his commandments. One of those commandments says to gather together with other believers to stir up love and good works, and to encourage each other.
This is why I go to church and why I believe it's a big deal for others who profess to be Christians to make going to church a priority. It's a bit like a scheduled "date night". If you start skipping that as much as you skip going to church...what does that do to your relationship?
No comments:
Post a Comment