“I am a Christian, but I don’t go to church.” Have you heard or said this statement before? I have heard it way too many times and it makes me sad. There are many reasons, ranging from not enough time to having to work to not feeling welcome. Each of these makes me even sadder. Why is church not a priority? Jesus said, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). While the presence of God is everywhere, being with a body of believers is a completely different experience. The book of Hebrews also says, “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” (Hebrews 10:24-25). While this verse was written in a different time period, I believe that it is still applicable today. There are so many truths that support the importance of relationships with others: commands in the Bible, our Triune God, and Jesus’s example on earth.
Knowing that relationships are so important should shape our view of the church. There is a misconception that the word church signifies a building where people go to worship. While that is one definition of church, it is not the original definition. The first church, in Acts, did not consider themselves a church because they met in a building together. They considered themselves a church because they went out into the world ministering to others. In early churches, people did not go to a special building to meet. Many of the first churches were home churches where small groups of people gathered in the house of one individual. I believe that church is more about who we worship and minister with than where we go to worship.
Using this definition of church, some people may realize they actually are a part of the church. Participating in a church doesn’t necessarily mean you have to attend a traditional service on a Sunday morning. Some people must work on Sundays. Some people don’t feel comfortable in a church building. Other ways to get involved in the church include attending a weekly Bible Study with friends or meeting with others to read the Bible, pray, and serve others.
While there are ways to join the church that extend beyond the typical meetings that take place in a church building, I believe that there are many benefits to being involved in a more established and traditional church body. I have attended church weekly since I was a newborn and it has helped tremendously in my walk with Christ. Being a part of a church with an established pastor means you will have someone trained to lead you and to answer your questions. Use caution when selecting a church to attend and make sure the pastor preaches from the Bible in an appropriate and wholesome manner. Attending a church that meets in a building will also allow you to meet more people, maybe even individuals different from you. When you meet with a group of friends, you will most likely share similar beliefs. Worshipping with people different than you allows for more opportunities for your faith to be challenged.
The benefits of attending an established church within a church building are greater than I can list in a single blog post. If you aren’t already involved in a church body, find a way to meet with other believers. Podcasts and tv sermons can be useful, but they aren’t enough on their own. God intended for there to be accountability and fellowship within the church, and you can’t get that through a screen. If you regularly meet with other believers but don’t attend a church led by a pastor, I would encourage you to look for a place where you feel welcome and where your faith can be challenged. If you work on Sundays, look for a church that offers services on a weeknight, like Wednesdays or Thursdays, or see if they offer a Sunday night service. Find a place where you are comfortable yet convicted. If you regularly attend a church led by a pastor, think of ways you can get more people involved in the church. Even if they aren’t ready to go to the building where you meet with your church family, start a Bible Study or meet to pray together. Wherever you are in your involvement in the church, I hope that you can challenge yourself to go a step further. Step outside of your comfort zone. Serve and minister to others. Allow others to hold you accountable within the church. Most importantly, don’t get too caught up in thinking about the church as a building. The church is a body of believers, working to fulfill the ministry of God.
