Food for Thought
Church of Christ, Brookfield, IL
| Why Should Christians Attend Church? by Dr. Dale A. Robbins |
For believers, there is no substitute for attending church. Besides something that
pleases God, it is necessary for a believer’s spiritual well-being. For shut-ins or invalids
who aren’t able to go to church, the ministries on radio or TV might be the only kind of
fellowship or spiritual nourishment that they get. God certainly understands the
circumstances of these people, and recognizes the sincerity of their hearts. However, it
is a different matter for those who could attend church but are too lazy, or put other
things such as entertainment and amusements before God, or who harbor bitterness or
indifference toward other believers. It is important to attend church for the following
reasons:
(1) It is an Expression of our Love for God
Going to church is a visible, tangible expression of our love and worship toward God.
It is where we can gather with other believers to publicly bear witness of our faith and
trust in God, something that is required of all Christians (Matt. 10:32-33) -- and it is
where we can bring Him offerings of praise, thanks, and honor, which are pleasing to
Him. The psalmist wrote, “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the
assembly I will praise You” (Psa. 22:22). People are often motivated toward church
attendance for how it will bless themselves, however we should remember that the
primary purpose of the corporate gathering is to bring “service” to the Lord as a
blessing to Him (Psa. 134:2). Indeed, the Lord is deserving of our time and energy to
honor Him with our service of devotion. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and
honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were
created” (Rev. 4:11).
(2) It builds up our Spiritual Strength
Receiving the preaching and teaching of the Word of God increases our faith and builds
us up spiritually. Every believer knows what it is to face spiritual conflicts to their faith,
and must realize the importance of being fed spiritually so that they can overcome the
challenges. Paul states that Christians face a wrestling match with the Devil and his evil
spiritual forces, and warns that the church must put on spiritual armor for protection, as
it will take everything at our disposal to stand (Eph. 6:10-18).
How important that we take every opportunity available to receive ministry and strength
from God’s Word. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
(Rom. 10:17).
3) It brings a special visitation of the Lord’s Presence
There is the promise of a special visitation of the Lord’s presence whenever two or
more gather specifically in the name of Jesus. By implication, this means whenever
“Jesus” is the object of gathered prayer, worship, praise, preaching, etc. Even though
Jesus resides within the heart of every believer, he honors a gathering in his name by
coming in the “midst,” with his power, awareness, and anointing. In such a gathering,
Christ is able to do things in hearts that he may not at any other time. The scripture
says that God inhabits the praise of His people (Psa. 22:3), and in such an atmosphere
the Holy Spirit will often manifest spiritual gifts that minister to the body of Christ. “For
where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them”
(Matt. 18:20).
(4) It provides fellowship with other Christians
Gathering together also has compounded importance to the relationship of the Christian
brethren. The Bible makes it clear that a right relationship with God requires a “vertical”
and “horizontal” alignment — that is, we must have a vertical fellowship with God and a
horizontal fellowship with other believers. It is not possible to love God and refuse to
love the brethren. If you have a problem loving other Christians, you have a problem in
your relationship with God. Scripture warns us that unforgiveness toward others will
void God’s forgiveness of our own sins (Matt. 6:15). John wrote, “He who says he is
in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother
abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:9-10). One of
the most important reasons that we go to church is to practice love toward the brethren
in the form of fellowship. The Bible clearly shows that if we have a right relationship
with God, we have fellowship with others believers. “But if we walk in the light as He
is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His
Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Keeping ourselves in love and harmony with
other believers keeps us humble before God so that Christ’s blood can continue to
cleanse us from our sins.
pleases God, it is necessary for a believer’s spiritual well-being. For shut-ins or invalids
who aren’t able to go to church, the ministries on radio or TV might be the only kind of
fellowship or spiritual nourishment that they get. God certainly understands the
circumstances of these people, and recognizes the sincerity of their hearts. However, it
is a different matter for those who could attend church but are too lazy, or put other
things such as entertainment and amusements before God, or who harbor bitterness or
indifference toward other believers. It is important to attend church for the following
reasons:
(1) It is an Expression of our Love for God
Going to church is a visible, tangible expression of our love and worship toward God.
It is where we can gather with other believers to publicly bear witness of our faith and
trust in God, something that is required of all Christians (Matt. 10:32-33) -- and it is
where we can bring Him offerings of praise, thanks, and honor, which are pleasing to
Him. The psalmist wrote, “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the
assembly I will praise You” (Psa. 22:22). People are often motivated toward church
attendance for how it will bless themselves, however we should remember that the
primary purpose of the corporate gathering is to bring “service” to the Lord as a
blessing to Him (Psa. 134:2). Indeed, the Lord is deserving of our time and energy to
honor Him with our service of devotion. “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and
honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were
created” (Rev. 4:11).
(2) It builds up our Spiritual Strength
Receiving the preaching and teaching of the Word of God increases our faith and builds
us up spiritually. Every believer knows what it is to face spiritual conflicts to their faith,
and must realize the importance of being fed spiritually so that they can overcome the
challenges. Paul states that Christians face a wrestling match with the Devil and his evil
spiritual forces, and warns that the church must put on spiritual armor for protection, as
it will take everything at our disposal to stand (Eph. 6:10-18).
How important that we take every opportunity available to receive ministry and strength
from God’s Word. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
(Rom. 10:17).
3) It brings a special visitation of the Lord’s Presence
There is the promise of a special visitation of the Lord’s presence whenever two or
more gather specifically in the name of Jesus. By implication, this means whenever
“Jesus” is the object of gathered prayer, worship, praise, preaching, etc. Even though
Jesus resides within the heart of every believer, he honors a gathering in his name by
coming in the “midst,” with his power, awareness, and anointing. In such a gathering,
Christ is able to do things in hearts that he may not at any other time. The scripture
says that God inhabits the praise of His people (Psa. 22:3), and in such an atmosphere
the Holy Spirit will often manifest spiritual gifts that minister to the body of Christ. “For
where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them”
(Matt. 18:20).
(4) It provides fellowship with other Christians
Gathering together also has compounded importance to the relationship of the Christian
brethren. The Bible makes it clear that a right relationship with God requires a “vertical”
and “horizontal” alignment — that is, we must have a vertical fellowship with God and a
horizontal fellowship with other believers. It is not possible to love God and refuse to
love the brethren. If you have a problem loving other Christians, you have a problem in
your relationship with God. Scripture warns us that unforgiveness toward others will
void God’s forgiveness of our own sins (Matt. 6:15). John wrote, “He who says he is
in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother
abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 John 2:9-10). One of
the most important reasons that we go to church is to practice love toward the brethren
in the form of fellowship. The Bible clearly shows that if we have a right relationship
with God, we have fellowship with others believers. “But if we walk in the light as He
is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His
Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Keeping ourselves in love and harmony with
other believers keeps us humble before God so that Christ’s blood can continue to
cleanse us from our sins.
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