Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’”.
Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching”
__________
Nowhere in the Bible does it say we must have our names on a church membership roll to be saved. However, that doesn’t mean that joining with other believers in a local church is not vital to our spiritual growth. Gathering regularly for worship and instruction encourages love for others, good works, and mutual accountability (Hebrews 10:24-25). I read an article some time ago that likened the Christian without a church to:
(1) A student who won’t go to school; (2) A soldier without an army; (3) A citizen who won’t vote; (4) A seaman without a ship; (5) A child without a family; (6) A drummer without a band; (7) A ballplayer without a team; (8) A honeybee without a hive; and, (9) A scientist who does not share his findings with his colleagues.
My brethren, if you have been neglecting one of God’s greatest provisions for your spiritual growth, find a church that believes and teaches the whole counsel of God’s Eternal Word and start attending faithfully. Above all, please don’t be a churchless Christian – get involved!
__________
Further thoughts:
Church attendance is a privilege. We recognize that some people cannot attend church because of physical problems or other legitimate reasons. However, those who can be in church should be. The singing, prayers, fellowship, and teaching God’s Word are just what we need to get us through the week ahead.
The Bible often refers to the church as “the body of Christ” and says that “all the members of that one body, being many, are one body” (1 Corinthians 12:12). Therefore, every person is essential and valuable as part of the whole. By ourselves, we may sometimes feel insignificant, unneeded, and of little value, like so much spare change. However, as individual parts that make up the whole, each of us is needed (1 Corinthians 12:15-22).
It takes many people to make sure that our church worship experience is fruitful, our fellowship as believers is valuable, and our work together as Christians is profitable. We are all unique individuals, but as Christians we are also indispensable parts of the body of Christ within a local church, and of greater value than we can ever know. So, if your in the category as a “Churchless Christian”, please find a church to attend that preaches and teaches “God’s Precious and Eternal Word”.
__________
Weak excuses keep some people from church week after week.
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Good thoughts. Thank you for saying them. J.
The Bible tells us that the body (of Christ) grows by that which every joint and limb supplies. Ephesians 4:16. Imagine a body without a heart or a liver! All you have is a corpse. Either one organ is vital to the life, health and usefulness of the body. Take a flotilla of battleships. The classic truck of the enemy is to isolate one vessel. It is easier to sink an isolated ship than a whole flotilla. God’s plan is togetherness. Here there is safety and security.
Using the analogy of a body, when a part of a body gets cut off, the body suffers but may still survive. But the part that’s cut off DIES.