This seems to be the growing
concern of many Christians, especially in these latter
days. Several have
addressed this issue with me, and I often see it mentioned in the writings of
others.
First of all, we who know
Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord are the Church. 1 Corinthians 12
is clear that each true Christian is part of the body of Christ and is
therefore part of the Church. So wherever we go, the Church goes.
With that understood, I
realize that Christians are actually referring to the meeting place, which is
usually called “the church.” We have even grown accustomed over the years of
equating the meeting place, more specifically the building, as “the church.”
Now we understand that when
folks say, “I can’t find a church,” they’re referring to a local group of
Christians meeting at a designated place called “the church.”
In the first century
Christians usually met in someone’s home or even in a field. There were no
white wood frame or brick churches with steeples and church bells at that time.
The important thing wasn’t where they
met, but that they met.
I think we need to answer two
questions:
1.
Is not attending
church a sin?
2.
Is it really
necessary that I attend a church?
Is Not Attending Church A
Sin?
The Lord says through the
writer of Hebrews, and then Matthew and Paul:
“Not forsaking the assembling
of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and
so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
“For where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)
The Church should meet
together. This can be accomplished in small groups such as a home church or
home Bible study, or large groups. I personally feel that small groups are more
desirable. Obviously, “two or three gathered together” is acceptable to Jesus.
Because of the decay of organized churches, this has become very popular today.
“One man esteemeth one day
above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully
persuaded in his own mind.” (Romans 14:5)
“Let no man therefore judge
you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or
of the sabbath days:” (Colossians 2:16)
No Christian, convinced in
their own mind, should be judged by others if they choose to not attend the
organized church on the corner, but instead worship in their own home or the
home of a friend or family member.
So to answer question number
one, it is not a sin to not attend the local organized church, but instead
worship in a small group in a private home or elsewhere.
Is It Really Necessary That I
Attend A Church?
At this point, we need to ask
another question, and that is, “Why should the Church meet at all?” In other
words, “Is there any benefit in the Church meeting together?”
There are four main benefits
that come to mind. They are:
1.
Supporting one
another in fellowship (can only be done in a group)
2.
Worshipping the
Lord (can be done privately and as a group)
3.
Studying God’s
Word, the Bible (can be done privately and as a group)
4.
Spending time in
prayer (can be done privately and as a group)
Whether this is being done in
the local organized church on the corner or in a private home with only two or
three people, both are “having church.” Both are acceptable to the Lord.
All or any of these four
criteria could be abused, regardless of the size of the group. What we should
be concerned about is that at the end of the meeting, who stood out at the
meeting? Did Jesus stand out, or did people stand out? Did the Holy Spirit
guide the meeting, or was it controlled by man? Who received the glory? Did I
learn anything that God wants me to know?
Before I go any farther, I do
want to be clear about one thing. There are no perfect churches. There is only
one way a church could be perfect, and that is if the group consisted of God
the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and those saints currently in
Heaven who have gone on before us. So let us always keep in mind, all of Christ’s
local churches on earth are composed of saved sinners who still reside in human
flesh and are not perfect.
Be honest, sometimes we’re
looking for the ‘perfect’ church and this is why we “can’t find a church.” In
this case, maybe we should actually ask, “Am I the problem?” Ouch! Sorry, but
that has to be considered. If this isn’t the case, we should ask, “What should
I look for?
There are many things I look
for in a church, whether we’re talking about a congregation of two or three, or
hundreds. I will list some things I deem as important, as they come to mind.
They are in no special order, and this is not an exhaustive list. First of all,
what is being taught? The Bible says:
· God is recognized as a trinity; God the Father, God
the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
· Salvation is by God’s grace alone, not by works.
· Human works can never satisfy the penalty for sin.
· Salvation produces works (the Holy Spirit working
through us), but our works (or deeds) can never save us.
· Jesus was born of Mary, who was a virgin; i.e. a virgin
birth.
· Jesus was totally sinless in His life on earth.
· Jesus was truly God, and truly man while upon earth.
· Jesus died on the cross and rose the 3rd
day.
· Jesus will return for His bride at the Rapture, prior
to the Tribulation.
· Jesus will judge the world in the Tribulation and draw
Israel back to Him.
· The Church has not, cannot and does not replace
Israel.
· All mankind is born under sin.
· Jesus is the only way to the Father (to be saved).
There is no other way.
· Heaven and hell are real.
· The Bible is the inerrant Word of God - without error
in the original languages.
· All future prophecies will come to pass just as
accurately as all past prophecies have come to pass; i.e. 100%.
· God is the sole creator of the world.
Besides what is being taught,
I consider what is taking place. Again, in no particular order, and it is not an
exhaustive list.
· Are people growing?
· Is prophecy (25-33% of the Bible) being omitted?
· Is God’s Word, the Bible, actually being taught?
· Is the focus on entertainment or Christ?
· Are the old hymns from actual song books being used
for congregational singing? (My own personal preference.)
· Could I get trampled if I’m too close to the door at
noon on Sunday morning?
· Am I entertained for 45 minutes and then get a 15
minute sermonette?
· Are prayers for show, or do they have feet on them?
· Is the place where the Church comes together shown
respect as a place of worship?
Listen carefully; these are
some things that are important to me.
The question is, “What is important to you?” The greater question is, “What is
important to Jesus for you?”
The best advice I can think
of to help Christians who face this problem is:
1.
Pray about it.
2.
Blow the dust off
your Bible, and really get serious about studying it. Why?
a.
So you will know
the Truth, and by knowing the Truth, you will recognize what is false.
b.
So God can speak
to you and guide you.
I have found that even though
most people mean well, my best advice comes from the Lord Himself, but I can’t
really know what he wants, if I don’t talk to Him in prayer and listen to Him
through His Word, the Bible. Communication. That’s the answer. Communication,
between God and us. He’ll lead us where He wants us to be.
When Paul and Silas left
Thessalonica and went to Berea, their message was eagerly received, but notice
carefully that the Bereans were not gullible. They “examined the Scriptures
every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
“Now the Berean Jews were of
more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message
with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul
said was true.” (Acts 17:11 NIV)
Visit the church you have in
mind, and do as the Bereans. If what they say is true, maybe that is where the
Lord wants you to be. If what they say is not true, after daily examining the
Scriptures, flee.
The number one reason there
are so many Christians being duped by charlatans in church meetings is
ignorance. If they would just seriously study the Bible for themselves, as the
Bereans did, many eyes would be opened. Then they could recognize the garbage
that is being shoveled at them.
One final thought concerning
shut-ins; it is totally understood that you physically cannot leave your area.
Worship the Lord our God wherever you are, and He will be there with you, even
if you are alone.
To all Christians, whether
you attend a very large organized church or a very small home church is a
personal preference. The important thing is, “How do ‘what is taught’ and ‘the
actions of the group’ measure up with the Scriptures?”
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
