Does God Want You At Church?

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Easter is upon us, and lots of people who don't normally attend church will be present Easter morning.  Many people come on Christmas and Easter only (dubbed "CEOs" by some Christians) out of habit, tradition, or obligation.  But is church even worth going to?  What if your heart isn't really in it?  Can you be a Christian and not go to church?  These extremely important questions (and variations of them) deserve to be unpacked the right way.  Here’s how I’m looking at it:

            1. What is church?
            2. What does the Bible say?
            3. What does God think about church?


1. WHAT IS CHURCH?
Washington Memorial Chapel, Valley Forge National Park
Church can mean, “a building for public Christian worship,” as defined by Dictionary.com.  However, The Church is more than just a building.  The Bible describes The Church as being The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27).  Christians are followers of Jesus.  Asking this question is asking if The Body of Christ can still be part of The Body without actually being attached to it!

“Can I be a husband without living with my wife?”
That’s what it’s like being a Christian and not going to church!

When you are in a loving relationship with someone, this frame of mind simply does not exist.


2. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT CHURCH?
Our society today idolizes individualism; however, this is completely opposite of what we find in the Bible.  The themes of Christian community are found all throughout the Scriptures.  Community is a central theme of the New Testament.  While there is no Bible verse that explicitly says, “Go to church,” Christian community is already assumed.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
–Hebrews 10:24-25

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body.  We are many parts one body, and we all belong to each other.
–Romans 12:4-5

The Bible calls Christians everywhere to meet together on a regular basis.  One of my church’s core values is that “You Can’t Do Life Alone!”  The Bible says we are all different parts of one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Romans 12:4-5).  The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.”  In order to live out the Christian life, we need each other!

Church provides:
            -Accountability (James 5:16)
            -Discipleship (becoming more like Jesus)
            -Fellowship and unity (encouraging, nourishing relationships) (Psalm 133:1)
            -Encouragement (1 Thessalonians 5:11)


3. WHAT DOES GOD THINK ABOUT CHURCH?
God doesn’t want us going to church out of simple obligation.  Singing songs, bowing our heads, and reciting The Lord’s Prayer are meaningless gestures if our heart isn’t in it.  He doesn’t want us just “going through the motions.”  It isn’t about checking off a box; it’s about continual life change.  God wants our hearts.

“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”
–Jesus in Matthew 15:8, quoting Isaiah 19:13

The reason God wants us in community with believers on a regular basis (aka church) is for us to grow closer to each other, and to grow closer to Him.  Going to church exposes us to God’s Word and tunes our hearts to Jesus.  Going to church is the best way for us to know and love God in a deeper way!

“The point isn’t Christianity.  The point is being a Christian.  It’s being a follower of Jesus.  It’s being connected with everything that’s true, and good, and right.”
-Rob Bell


4. IN CONCLUSION
So can you be a Christian and not go to church?  Let's rephrase it and ask this question instead: If you don't currently attend church, can you honestly say to yourself that God has your heart?

We've seen that this is the wrong frame of mind.  It's like asking, "Can I be a husband and not live with my wife?"

We’ve seen that the Bible shows Christian community as a central theme.  It already assumes we are going to be in fellowship with other believes (aka church).

We’ve also seen that God ultimately wants our hearts.  It’s not about going through the motions, but giving our hearts to him.  This is why we attend church on a regular basis, to tune our hearts to Jesus.


ONE LAST THOUGHT…
Jesus Himself went to synagogue every week, which is basically the equivalent to what we know as church (Luke 4:16).  Christians are followers of Jesus.  So you tell me: if you don't go to church, does God have your heart?

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