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Is Going to Church Really Necessary?

Written by admin on . Posted in Pilgrim's Progress, Uncategorized.

Is Going to Church really Necessary?

The technological era we live in has made it quite easy for us to sit on our couch and watch TV preachers speak on Sunday morning. We can tune in to Christian radio and hear sermons and messages 24 – 7.  The internet gives us even more opportunity to hear our favorite preachers. If we miss the live stream, most messages are recorded and available to watch and listen to at our convenience.  We can even listen on our smart phones while driving or performing other tasks. Due to the Covid lockdowns, many of our churches are now streaming online and posting their recorded messages on YouTube or other sites.  Now I can sit in the comfort of my own home and hear my own Pastor speak on Sunday morning! 

These are all great options to hear Gods word, when we for whatever reason can’t join together, however, we must ask the question:  Is Church attendance really necessary? The answer is an overwhelming yes!

In the New Testament we see Jesus regularly visiting the synagogue. 

Luke 4:16 – He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read…

“As was his custom,”the Son of God, Creator, and Savior of the world, thought it important to gather together, to worship the Father, to look in to the Holy Word of God, and to have fellowship with other believers.

The early Church in the book of Acts thought it so important that they met daily.

Acts 2:46-47 NIV –   46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

The reasons to meet together are too numerous to list here, but the benefits are great, not only for the individual, but for the church as a whole. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 compares the Church, or Body of Christ, to the human body. 

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 NIV – 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Without digging in to the entire passage, the point is simple, if you remove any part from your physical body, your body will no longer function as it did before, and likewise the part that was removed will die and no longer benefit the body.  Same goes for you or I as individuals, our participation, or connection, benefits the entire church body, and we as a part, must be connected to the body, and ultimately to Christ to survive.

Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV – 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 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.

Joy Perspective

Joy Perspective

Written by admin on . Posted in Pilgrim's Progress.

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”

Philippians 2:14-15 (NKJ)

On a beautiful sunny day, I greeted our neighbors as I walked our dog through our neighborhood.  Extending the typical greetings of “how are you doing?” was met with more than a few grumbled responses.

Today, many around the world, are living under lockdown orders, in confined quarters, limited access to necessities and unable to enjoy daily activities.  Our neighborhood is in a middle of beautifully wooded park land, enjoying wide open spaces and near many conveniences.  While many are experiencing significant impact on their careers, to the best of my knowledge, everyone in this neighborhood is gainfully employed or retired.  

The responses reflected a narrow perspective, which in turn forced me to reflect on my own perspective and attitudes.  Living in the grace and abundant mercy of GOD of heaven, do I conduct myself with joy?  Does my walk reflect Philippians 2:14-15?   Equally important, what am I willing to do to become harmless and blameless before the LORD?

GOD’s word tells me to trust GOD and be reverently thankful. “Fret not about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto GOD.” (Phil 4:6)  Also, HE tells me to care for others “…not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Phil. 4:32)

In short, follow JESUS’s command, love GOD and love your neighbor as you love yourself.  This seems to me to be the shortest route to changing one’s perspective.