For everyone of us, the story of how we came to Jesus is
different. For some it was a radical conversion whilst for others it was
a gradual process. The one thing that is consistent in the stories of
this special moment in a Christians life, is that it was intensely
personal. Whether it took place in an auditorium filled with thousands
of people, or alone on a bed in the middle of the night, each person
felt something that was exclusively felt by them. It was a life changing
moment and one that most people never forget.
So if the moment of
becoming a follower of Christ is so incredibly personal, why do we then
have to join a church? Surely we can follow Christ and stay home? So
long as we read our Bible's, pray and live in a way that will bring
glory and honour to God, what on earth do we have to go to church for?
Going
to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than sitting in a
garage makes you a car. However, it is clear through various scriptures
that God does want us to meet together, that He does want us to work
together - Romans 12:4-5 '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 of one body and we all belong to each other.' God has equipped us
all with different gifts and talents and the only way that these gifts
are going to be used effectively is if they are used in conjunction with
one another. Some people are given a gift of singing, others of
organizing or teaching, whilst still others are encouragers or leaders.
The list of gifts and talents is long and varied and many people have
more than one but if God wanted us to live autonomously then He would
have given us all, all of the gifts!
What going to church does for
us is give us the opportunity to grow in wisdom and the understanding
of God's word; the chance to be with like-minded people with a common
perspective; the opportunity to share honestly about the challenges you
are facing and the encouragement and wisdom to get you through. It also
gives you the opportunity to be more effective in helping others. When
an entire congregation gets involved in a community upliftment programme
it is able to accomplish so much more than if only a handful of people
got involved.
However, we have to face the realities that for many
people getting to a church is not possible. There are many reasons that
people are unable to get to Church. Some examples are that they either
live in a remote area, are housebound due to illness or else live in a
country where Christians are persecuted. The inability to gather with
other Christians (which is what "Church" is), does not make them less of
a Christian. God has placed them in those situations and locations for
His plans and purposes.
This does not mean that we should all stop
attending Church. Hebrews 10:25 says "Let us not neglect our meeting
together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now
that the day of His return is drawing near."
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