Join the Assembly!

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

In yesterday’s post, I discussed the differences between being “in the church”, but not actually “of the church”.  Attending church services and adhering to a church’s rules and regulations does not bring about salvation.  You could attend church services every day and memorize the entire Bible, but your efforts would not save you from God’s wrath.  Only repentance and faith in the precious blood of the Lamb can restore a broken relationship with the Lord.  Faith in who Jesus is and what He’s done for you supernaturally transforms you into a member of the body of Christ, which is the true church. 

Recently, I had a conversation with someone who professed to be a Christian.  To gain more clarity about his spiritual beliefs, I asked him how he defines “being a Christian”.  He responded that Jesus Christ is his Savior.  I was excited when he told me this.  With a big smile on my face, I asked him what church he attends.  He stated that he does not go to church.  I followed up with a simple question: “Why not?”  His response:  “I don’t need to go to church to prove that I love God.”

He was right.  Is church attendance necessary for salvation?  No, it isn’t.  And any pastor or preacher who tells you that you must come to church regularly in order to be saved or to maintain your salvation is a false teacher.  Your salvation is based on faith alone, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9).  However, if you love the Lord and have a clear understanding of what He did for you when He sent His Son to die in your place, why would you refuse to visit one of His houses of worship?  If you truly understand mankind’s depravity and how we deserve the ultimate penalty that the Lord Jesus Christ paid for us with His own blood, why would you purpose in your heart to not enter the Lord’s house -- ever?

Perhaps there are several reasons for this.  I’ve heard individuals claim that they were mistreated by someone in the church, so they never went back to that church or any other church.  I’ve heard others say that Christians are hypocrites – saying one thing, but doing just the opposite.  Others may state that they are discouraged by the rituals that are performed in some houses of worship, and that church is boring.  Do any of these justifications sound familiar?  Perhaps you used one or two of these excuses before you heard the voice of God speaking to your heart.  I certainly did, but I’m not going to tell you which one.

The purpose of attending church isn’t to get on God’s perfect attendance list.  There is no such thing.  The purpose of the church is to hear what thus saith the Lord, and to encourage one another in the faith.  It is a gathering place for believers to outwardly express an extraordinary love – a love for Christ – and to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, which is to share the Gospel with the entire world.  Church attendance strengthens a believer’s walk with Christ.  The more you hear God’s Word, the more it changes you.  The more you gather with the saints of God, the more saintly you’ll want to become. Your faith in Christ makes you a new creation.  Such newness glorifies God and is to be used to draw others to Christ.

Yes, you can and should study the Word on your own.  However, if you reason in your heart that you are going to intentionally neglect God’s house, what does that say about your walk with him?  In our humanness, we make efforts to talk about the ones we love.  Are you talking about Jesus with others? We make efforts to visit friends and loved ones, sometimes traveling great distances and incurring hefty expenses.  Typically, a church service is one day per week – Sunday.  How can you consider visiting your local church once a week a time-consuming burden?  If this applies to you, I strongly suggest you examine yourself to see if you’re actually in the faith.  God has given you a gift that compares to no other – His only begotten Son.  Without Jesus, you would be nothing.  You would be like a walking corpse, dying in your sins.  Does it seem right to allow a negative experience to keep you from worshipping with the saints?  I’m not minimizing what may have happened to you, but what I am saying is that nothing and no one should have the power to stop you from lifting up holy hands in worship with the saints.  You won’t be in Heaven by yourself, so you may as well get used to corporate worship.  You believe the church is filled with hypocrites?  That’s ok – there’s room for one more.  Church seems boring to you?  Open your mind AND your Bible.  Don’t just sit back and listen to the pastor preach; read the scriptures that he is referencing.

Do you truly love the Lord?  Do not neglect to gather together to worship Him.  Believers who refuse to go to church are stunting their spiritual growth.  They are inadvertently choosing to be spiritually malnourished, which can lead to the enemy gaining a foothold in your life.  Although we are just pilgrims passing through, this life is tough.  We need one another, and regularly attending a Bible-believing church is where you develop the spiritual muscle to carry your cross every day.   

Now go to church!