Why do we need Church?
“I believe in God. I can worship anywhere, pray anywhere . Why do I need to go to church?”
First of all, let’s go back to the Truth about the Truth of what the Church is. It’s not a western part of the world nor America loves Jesus fan club. It’s not even the building you go to during the week. It’s not a social club where we treat the God of the Universe like a genie, only interacting with Him when we want something. We aren’t His master, He should be ours.
The disciples and first believers were called Followers of the Way. They met together to teach, learn and fellowship with each other. They developed friendships and became like family caring for one another. People outside the Church, the family of believers knew there was something different about the Followers of Way. People knew there were risks just by associating with them, because Jesus was hated. His Followers were persecuted. There were risks and a cost that many weren’t willing to take.
The church was and should continue to be a family who encourages each other. Yes, you can be with God anywhere, but when the temptations come, will you have someone to reach out to for accountability? Will you be a lone sheep for the wolves to attack, or will you surround yourself with the flock?
The church is supposed to be like a body , many parts working together. What if the people that God wants you meet, and work with in His Kingdom work are meeting together and you stay home? What if you are meant to meet someone because God has equipped the unknown family member with resources you have been praying for, or vice
versa?
1 Corinthians 12:4-31
4 Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages. 11 But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
12 For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. 16 If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant modesty, 24 while our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, 25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. Moreover, I show a most excellent way to you.
The True Church is a family you belong to, the Family of God that you will spend eternity with. It won’t just be you and the King in Heaven, nor the New Heaven and Earth. We should extend the invitation for others to join us by sharing the Gospel. The goal isn’t to compete with each building trying to get the most attendance or coolest entertainment. The King of Kings and what He wants for us , should be our focus. It is He who changes hearts , with a longing to belong / to stay. Entertainment will not keep people , if it stops and that’s the only reason they want to come.
The Church wasn’t meant to be changed just because the world hated it both then and now. We are meant to be a particular people, to stand out from among the world . People will not see their need for the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords to save them to the uttermost , if we give them a false view of God who will excuse their sin, and let everyone into Heaven.
The Gospel doesn’t need to be changed , it needs to be re-read. Hearing the Truth of God’s Word is what people need, because that how the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin and open their eyes to the their need for Jesus. Don’t change the message. You are just the messenger. The strength of the message is exactly what they need. Don’t weaken it. God prepares the hearts of the people to receive the Truth with right amount of warning and love . Any change may affect how a person receives the message , and impact their decision about eternal matters and their future destination.
The Church’s heart cry should be the same as our King’s ,
Revelation 22: 17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” He who hears, let him say, “Come!” He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Matthew 22 :1-14
1 Jesus answered and spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding feast for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner. My cattle and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast!” ’ 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; 6 and the rest grabbed his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. 9 Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the wedding feast.’10 Those servants went out into the highways and gathered together as many as they found, both bad and good. The wedding was filled with guests.
11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn’t have on wedding clothing, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’ 14 For many are called, but few chosen.”
We should be servants about our King’s Business sharing the Truth with anyone who will hear it. The Church isn’t the building you attend, nor is it just the pastor’s job to be the only crying out “Come,” to the world. We are all servants with different relationships and acquaintances for a purpose. The main goal isn’t to make people a part of a building like a social club . The main goal is for us to speak and share about our coming King. The Church isn’t about non-believers coming to building. The purpose is for believers to encourage one another, and if a non- believer attends the meetings will see how the King works in His Family. It’s about all of His Family around the globe being about the King’s Business in the midst of a spiritual War for souls.
Wealthy, healthy, and the American dream, aren’t the King’s main concern . Yes, He cares for us physically, and emotionally, but what’s the good of pursuing such temporary things, if your soul, your very breath was required of you this night, or in the days to come. Don’t let your focus be solely on material things that can be burned up, health that can be taken away, or money stolen. Lives are precious to God and many are lost every moment due to our silence, fear of rejection, and or disobedience.
Will we be about our Father’s Business with the passion of His Heart to see others saved? Will we be Jesus’ Bride, the Church who long to spend time with the One who will be the focus of our eternity? We are running out of time to be the servants with the invitation to the King’s Table. We don’t know what day that invitation will be rescinded, but we do know we are meant to work together with the ones we will spend eternity with. Get to know your Brothers and Sisters in Christ, those are people who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives and turn from sin, that God our Father put in your path.
Give the invitation of Hope found in Jesus, and maybe one day , a desperate soul you spoke to about Jesus, will become your family. The results aren’t up to the messengers, but if you never share, you will never know what could be. What if the fear of rejection by one , keeps us from speaking to three others who are ready for the Truth, like fields white for harvest?
Matthew 9:37
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest indeed is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Pray therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest.”
1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
Will we be the church/ God's family in our daily lives and not merely go to a building weekly with no change? Will we be about the King's Business , instead of using our time together like a social club , entertaining the masses . Tell the Truth, not just what people want to hear. Don't love people to Hell. Tell them the Truth. Do you really love someone , if you aren't honest with them? Why would we warn them of the dangers of alcoholism, or smoking that could kill them, but not their soul in danger of Hell? They aren't going to party in Hell. It's torment , because the rejection of God is the rejection of Love, Peace , Comfort , and all blessings and gifts that we are given to enjoy. If we love people, warning and loving them enough to tell them the Truth go together. Don't waste the opportunity for someone you know to hear the Truth, because of fear. That temporary rejection will go away in time, but your silence could be deadly to a soul that is one breath from eternity. Don't wait! Be the Church, share about your Heavenly Father who adopted you as His Own! Share the opportunity to be a part of His Family, a place where we long to belong while there is time.
*All Scripture from the World English Bible
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