This week, I sat in a man’s office with whom I am acquainted but I do not know him well. I have no idea what church he goes to if at all, but there was a well-used Bible lying on his desk. In the midst of our conversation, I mentioned that church attendance is a good thing.
His facial expression caused me to pay close attention to his reply, “I think it is much more important to have a relationship with God.” I am in whole-hearted agreement with him.
However, his body language revealed to me that something else lurked beneath the surface, so I said, “But church attendance is a good and beneficial thing.” He affirmed my statement but I am still of the opinion that some past experience bothers him to some degree. In any case, this conversation caused me to spend some time thinking about the erosion of the importance of church in the minds of many believers.
Youth sports leagues no longer have any qualms about scheduling events on Wednesday evenings or Sundays. Our local school scheduled the most recent parent teacher conferences on Wednesday evening. Stores, both locally and across the nation are open not only on Sunday but all day on Sunday because people will shop then. This list could go on but that is not the issue. The reason for all of these things is because the overall citizenry of the nation is simply not interested in church. That is understandable. What is incomprehensible to me is that Christians also have clearly indicated their disregard (disdain? contempt?) for church. I am sure that many reasons could be given for this. However, that discussion is not my purpose here. I would simply say that as good as the reasons might be they are not good enough.
Christ declared that He would build His Church. He died to establish His Church. Christ left His Church here on the earth to further His kingdom. Christ remains the head of His Church. Christ is purifying His Church so that it will fulfill His purposes here on earth. Christ has tasked His Church with teaching, training, exhorting, rebuking, and encouraging Christians.
It is very difficult for His Church to do those things if Christians do not attend regularly and consistently. Christ intends for those outside His Church to be attracted to Him by the love that those inside His Church have for each other. Christ has gifted individual Christians and given them as gifts to His Church. More importantly, Christ is purifying His Church so that it will be a suitable bride for Himself in eternity. Christ will call His Church to heaven one day. Christ’s Church will meet around His throne for all eternity.
Hebrews 10:19-25 speaks to this, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (NASU) I pray that God will give you a renewed love and respect for His Church.
