WORDTIPS: WHY DO WE GO TO CHURCH?
Based on a survey done by ‘Christianity today.com’ about the impact of the pandemic in ‘Church Attendance in America’, it shows 60% decline in January 2021 compared to January 2020, which means that if 10 people were attending church in January 2020, only 4 were attending in January 2021.
Even before the pandemic only 24% were regular church attendees (statista.com). Now after 60% drop, we see only 9.6% regularly attending the church in America.
Even if the reader attends church every Sunday but how many truly know the purpose of going to church. For most it has just become a routine and for others it might of out of compulsion or for any other personal reasons. Let us learn today if the Scripture urges us to go to church on a regular basis, and if so, why?
THE CHURCH DEFINITION
The word ‘Church’ translated from the Greek word ‘ekklesia’ means ‘the gathering or assembly of faithful people’. It definitely does not point to a building.
Ekklesia is derived from the Greek verb ‘Ek-kaleo’ meaning the ‘called-out’. So Ekklesia or the church means a group of people called out of the darkness (ignorance of God) into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9) and from the power of the darkness into the kingdom of God’s beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).
In Acts 19:31-32 we see that the church in Ephesus was gathered in a theatre (a building), which is not called ‘the church’ but the gathered ones were called ‘the assembly or the church’ derived from the Greek word ‘Ekklesia’. for we see Paul greeting ‘the church’ that gathers in ‘the house’ of Priscilla and Aquila (Romans 16:5). So, wherever children of God meet together as a body of believers, it is called ‘the church’.
The foundation of the church is the revelation of Jesus Christ.
When Peter revealed that Jesus is Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Jesus said to him that Peter got this revelation from the Father in heaven, and upon this foundation stone (revelation of Jesus Christ), Jesus will build ‘the church’ (the body of believers) (Matthew 16:16-18), Himself being its ‘Corner Stone’ (Ephesians 2:20).
There were high priests holding their posts in the synagogue, filled with the knowledge of the Law but did not know who Jesus is (Matthew 26:63). Let this not be the state of today’s church. Any building without a foundation will soon collapse. So, a thorough knowledge of who Jesus Christ is, is the basic groundwork necessary for the church.
THE CHURCH IS NOT A BUILDING BUT GOD’S PRESENCE IN AN ASSEMBLY
As children of God, we do not have any idol or picture in our place of worship as others do. So, we ought to be pretty sure if Jesus Christ is present in our midst to accept our praises and hear our plea. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them”, says Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:20), which means that Jesus Christ does not come after we gather but WHEN we gather, He is already there. What a privilege!
After His resurrection, when the disciples were gathered together on the first day of the week in a secret place (surely not a synagogue), Jesus Christ came in their midst (John 20:19). Again, when the disciples gathered on a Sunday in a house, Jesus Christ came in the midst of them (John 20:26).
The last instruction that Jesus gave His disciples was to wait in one accord in Jerusalem to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit that was promised by the Father (Acts 1:4-5). As they waited, the promised Holy Spirit filled the upper room where they were gathered (Acts 2:1-4).
After this incident, whenever they gathered together, they were filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. So, the purpose of gathering as a church is to come into God’s presence to fellowship with God and His children. Then together with NO discrimination of caste, creed, color or status we partake in the Holy communion, learn the Word of God and pray with one accord (Acts 2:42).
SHOULD WE GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAYS ONLY?
After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we see the disciples of Jesus gathering on the first days of the week. Even during the apostles’ time, they gathered to worship God on the first days of the week. (Mark 16:9; John 20:19, 26; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2)
But in my opinion, I would say that it would be honoring God to give Him the first few hours of the first day of the week.
During the apostles’ time they gathered everyday for fellowship and breaking bread (acts 2:42).
WHERE DID THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH GATHER?
In the Old Testament where the people of God were to assemble only in certain places like the i) the tabernacle (portable) (Exodus 36:8-39:43) ii) Jerusalem temple (2 Chronicles 2-4), etc., where the high priest will enter into the Most Holy Place once in a year and God’s presence will come down and the priest will hear God speak. But in the New Testament the sure presence of God is promised whenever and wherever two or three gathers in the name of Jesus Christ.
Let us list out a few places where the church gathered in the New Testament.
* In the upper room of a house (Acts 1:13)
* When Peter and John were released from their imprisonment, they came and announced all that happened to them to the other disciples, and they prayed together in one accord, probably in a house. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:1-31).
* Cornelius gathered his relatives and friends at his house and waited for Peter to come and share the word of God. As Peter was preaching, all these gentiles were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:24-25; 44).
* The church in Jerusalem (not specific if it was a separate building or a home church) (Acts 11:22)
* The Church at Antioch (Acts 11:26)
* The house of Mary, mother of John @ Mark (Acts 12:12)
* Philemon’s house (Philemon 1:2)
* House of Aquila and Priscilla (1 Corinthians 16:19)
* House of Nymphas (Colossians 4:15)
* By the river side in Philippi (Acts 16:12-13)
* An upper room in Troas (Acts 20:6-9)
IS IT COMPULSORY TO GO TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY?
The writer of the Hebrews instructs us not to forsake the gathering of the assembly, but to gather and exhort one another. This he says is our requisite to keep us ready to meet the Lord for the day is near (Hebrews 10:25).
Whoever we may be, we are baptized into one body, the church by the Holy Spirit for which Christ is the Head (1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:23).
By this we know that every member of a church is a different organ of one body. One part of the body cannot say to another part that it does not need the other. One organ cannot live without the other and so, each one should have care and concern over the other. When one organ suffers all others will suffer together and when one organ rejoices all others will rejoice too (1 Corinthians 12:21-27).
So, by gathering as a church, we unite as various parts of the body in one accord with the HEAD, Jesus Christ, get to know the joy and pain of every other organ, console the grieving, encourage the depressed, strengthen the weak, get nourished together by learning the doctrines and partaking in the Holy Communion and get moving forward together as a whole body of Jesus Christ.
A pastor once said that by going to the church every Sunday, we announce to our neighbors and passers-by that we have a great God to worship and that He is worthy of our time and efforts.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH MADE UP OF? WHY?
As we saw in the previous paragraph that Jesus Christ is the Head and every member of the church is an organ of the body, altogether forming ‘the Church’.
Christ Himself appointed some of the organs to work as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and some as teachers (Ephesians 4:11-12).
Likewise different gifts of the Spirit have been given to the diverse organs of the body namely the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, discernment, different kinds of tongues and the interpretation of the tongues (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
Other than these the church is comprised of ordinary, common people who are not very wise by the human standards, not very powerful, not very noble by birth. Many are foolish and weak according to the world standards (1 Corinthians 1:26-27). God chose the poor of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of His kingdom (James 2:5).
As the different organs of our body have different function, and as every organ is required to function to keep the body live and active, so are all these gifts and offices in the church (1 Corinthians 12:28-20). Each and every believer is expected to function according to his call and endowment so as to support the function and growth of the body.
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
All these systematic roles in the church are to equip, edify and build the body in perfect stature to the measure of the Head, Jesus Christ and also to ensure that every member grows equally with the other (Ephesians 4:11-14). Let us just imagine a body with a bid head, normal hands, ungrown nose, half closed eyes and disabled feet. How miserable will the sight be! This should never be the case of our church today.
Let us therefore encourage, support and build the body of the church without any partiality. Every organ should also be willing to grow along with the head and extend its co-operation towards its growth.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST & THE CHURCH
* HEAD & BODY: Jesus Christ is the Head of the church and the body grows to the measure of His stature (Ephesians 4:11-13). Christ being the Head, the church (organs of the body) draws its wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption from Him (1 Corinthians 1:30)
* VINE & BRANCHES: Jesus Christ is the vine and we are the branches. Only by abiding in Him we can bear fruits. Without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). With Christ as the Vine, the church (Branches) draws its nutrition from Him to bear fruits.
* CORNER STONE, FOUNDATION & BUILDING: Jesus Christ is the Corner Stone, the apostles and prophets the foundation upon which the church is built as a beautiful habitation of God, and every member is His household (Ephesians 2:19-22). With Christ as the Corner Stone, we are built upon Him as living stones into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5-7).
This being the relationship of the church with Christ, we ought to know that without Christ, we are nothing and can do nothing. Our union with Christ should go so intimate such that we have to be crucified with Christ and no longer live with any self-will but totally yielded to His (Galatians 2:20).
We are also expected to be one with Christ so much as the Father and the Son are One. When we live a life so much united with Christ, the world would see Christ through us, the church (John 17:21).
HOW TO GET UNITED WITH CHRIST?
* First Step – SALVATION – i) Repenting of our sins (Acts 2:38) ii) Declaring with the mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and iii) Believing in the heart that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Romans 10:9)
* Second Step – BAPTISM – Baptism is not an option. Repentance followed immediately by baptism is an essential requirement for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38). When the apostle Paul miraculously encountered Jesus on his way to Damascus and was led to the disciple Ananias, he was asked immediately to be baptized by water so that his sins would be washed away (Acts 22:16).
By getting baptized we get ourselves clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27).
* Third Step – ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – It is the Holy Spirit of God Who builds us together with Christ, the apostles, prophets and fellow believers (Ephesians 2:20-22)
* Fourth Step – MEDITATING THE WORD OF GOD – Jesus Christ is the Word of God (John 1:1). The Word of God is like a mirror and as we read and see ourselves through that Mirror, we can correct ourselves and grow to His stature (James 1:21-23).
HOW DO WE KNOW IF CHRIST ABIDES IN US?
i) We can check if God abides in us by our genuine love for one another (1 John 4:12-13)
ii) We can know that He abides in us if we keep His Word and walk in it (1 John 2:5)
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HOLY SPIRIT & THE CHURCH
* INAUGURAL CHIEF GUEST OF THE CHURCH – The New Testament church began on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured down (Acts 2:1-4). Thus, the church began in the Spirit (Galatians 3:3).
* DWELLS IN & MAKES US THE TEMPLE OF GOD – (1 Corinthians 3:16)
* HELPS US KEEP THE GOOD THINGS THAT WERE COMMITTED TO US – (2 Timothy 1:14)
* TEACHES US CONCERNING ALL THINGS – (1 John 2:27)
* SEALS US FOR THE DAY OF REDEMPTION – (Ephesians 4:30)
* GUIDES THE CHURCH – (Revelation 2:7,11,17,29; 3:6,13,22; Acts 8:29; 10:19; 13:2;20:22-23; 21:4; John 16:13)
* SANCTIFIES THE CHURCH – (1 Corinthians 6:11)
* BESTOWS SPIRITUAL GIFTS – (1 Corinthians 12:7)
* GRANTS DIFFERENT ROLES – (Ephesians 4:10-12)
THE UNIQUENESS OF THE CHURCH
– A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people (1 Peter 2:9)
– Holy people without blame (Ephesians 1:4)
– Separated people (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL4wH6I-FEQ (YouTube video of this sermon in Tamil) – Heavenly people (Luke 10:20; 1 Corinthians 15:48)
IS IT OKAY TO GO TO CHURCH LATE?
When two or three are gathered together in the name of Jesus Christ, He is already there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20). Let me ask a question. Is it okay to go late to a Prime Minister’s scheduled program? Of course, it is okay if we are greater than the Prime Minister.
Will it be pleasing for an employer to entertain an employee coming late? Is it an honor to join a scheduled meeting after the chief guest is already there? Won’t it be reverencing to go beforehand, prepare everything over there and ourselves and wait for the King of kings? “…In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].” Psalm 6:3 (Amp.)
Our God is not a God of disorder (1 Corinthians 14:33). Let everything be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40). Let us not break the decorum and distract others too.
CHURCH – THE PILLAR & FOUNDATION OF THE TRUTH
Let us all therefore seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Christ loved the church so much that He give Himself for the church (Ephesians 5:25). Jesus Christ was given as a sacrifice and the Holy Spirit is given to the church that we may know the Father God better (Ephesians 1:15-23). May God open the eyes of our spirit and help us grow in the knowledge of the Father and sanctify us to meet Him soon. May Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit together with our church help us grow in the knowledge of the Father and help us to meet Him who dwells in unapproachable light. The church of the living God is the pillar and foundation of the Truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Let us therefore not be lethargic and careless, but careful to gather as a church and worship the King of kings. God bless you!
