Why Go to Church?
A survey revealed that high school and college young people consider religion important to their lives but don’t attend church regularly. Of course, the same survey indicated that many other adults also demonstrate the same pattern.
That is an interesting paradox: religion is important but I don’t participate in it. The Bible is clear about “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) Regular church attendance is an imperative for three reasons that are outlined in Hebrews 10:22-25. First, Christians attend church to worship God—“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (v. 22) God gave a day of worship to rest from the routines of this physical life and reset our spiritual focus on Him. We can worship God in any place, at any time, but we are commanded to worship Him regularly in church. Second, Christians attend church to be inspired—“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” (v. 23) Have you ever had a car tire with a slow leak? You fill it to the appropriate pressure and a few days later it is nearly flat again! Someone wrote that God created Christians with slow leaks; they go nearly flat in about seven days. We need to go to church and get pumped up, to get encouraged to live better for Christ. Third, Christians attend church to enjoy fellowship—“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works.” (v. 24) It is at church that we find people who share our desire to serve God and live the Christian life. They will help us with their encouragement and their friendship. You don’t go to church to gain favor with God. You go to church for worship, for inspiration, and for fellowship.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
