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WHY GO TO CHURCH?

“I was glad when they said to me, `Let us go to the house of the LORD.’ (Psa 122:1). Looking for a church home? Please come visit with us!

Many are turned off to modern churches that tolerate hypocrisy, harp on getting more money or act like mere social clubs with a religious veneer. This isn’t the New Testament pattern. A recent Gallup Poll found that 60% of Americans believe most churches have lost their spiritual focus.

We’re simply an undenominational congregation belonging to Jesus Christ. We’re sincerely striving to restore the ideals of New Testament Christianity in faith, practice and spirit. You’ll find a warm welcome.

Some believe in God but think church attendance is merely optional. They feel satisfied that they’re a good person, and this should be enough to please God: “I can worship God Sunday morning on the golf course just as well as in a church house.” We would like to persuade you to rethink this.

In the Bible, God has given many good, compelling reasons for us to attend a Christ-approved church.

1. Regular Church Fellowship Strengthens Us. God made us relational creatures (Gen 2:18). By interacting with other sincere, loving Christians at church, you are made better. As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov 27:17).

At church, God says “comfort … encourage … build up one another” (1 Thess 4:18, 5:11). A sound church is a refreshing spiritual oasis in a negative world. We help bring out the best in each other, so we become the best Christians possible. Being with joyful, loving believers who want to please God is so uplifting.

The local church is ‘the household of God” (1 Tim 3:15). We have sweet fellowship in sharing a spiritual bond like a loving family. We spiritually bond together with the same spiritual values and goals. We “love one another” to seek the highest of each other always (Jn 13:34-35). We “bear one another’s burdens” to help us make it through life’s toughest challenges (Gal 6:1-2). In isolation, we probably will grow spiritually weaker. We then more readily fall prey to temptation.

2. God Deserves Regular Worship. God our Maker is great and gracious. We depend on Him for every good thing we have, even our very breath (Acts 17:28, Ja 1:17). He deserves our grateful praise.

The Jerusalem church of Christ had members who “continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching” and were “together” for worship in the Lord’s Supper, praying, singing, and giving (Acts 2:42-46). Jesus Christ died for us and deserves our grateful appreciation! His presence is with us when we “gather together” in His Name (Matt 18:20).

3. Church Membership Exemplified in Apostolic Church. We’re striving to be just like the Lord’s church we read about in the New Testament. By apostolic example, we learn that Paul tried to “join” himself to the Jerusalem church (Acts 9:26). This illustrates “placing membership” in a local church. We become identified as a working member of a local church fellowship.

In a local church we learn how to serve and work harmoniously with others. For example, the Philippian church consisted of “overseers...deacons...saints,” who formed a local team of Christians to “strive together for the faith of the gospel” (Phil 1:1,27). God wants us to learn to work together with “one another” in common cause with other faithful disciples (Eph 4:1-3).

The transforming power of the gospel enables diverse people to come together in Christ. We’ve banded together to help one another go to heaven.

4. God’s Commands Regular Church Attendance. God has ordained that Christians assemble together for worship, Bible study and fellowship with other believers. “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” (Heb 10:24-25).

The main command here is we must “consider...one another.” This is how we can interact with and encourage other Christians to grow in good works. We hold one another accountable to do what’s right. This cannot be done by being aloof.

We learn God’s will for our life in our Bible classes and preaching. The local church is “the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15). The mission of the local church is to teach the soul-saving, life-changing truth of Jesus Christ (Matt 28:18-20). Jesus promised, “The truth shall make you free” (Jn 8:32).

We need divine guidance in how to think and live, how to make right choices and form good habits. “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psa 119:105). Our children need to learn God’s values of right from wrong. How we respond to Christ’s Word has eternal consequences (Jn 12:48).

Hope to see you soon!

By W. Frank Walton