Does God Care if I Go to Church?

They sing too many worship songs. The sermons are boring. The pastor talks over my head. Nobody said hello to me when I walked in. The coffee is bad. I don’t feel like the leader’s minister to my needs. I don’t get included in the church activities.

I am too busy; my kids have sports on Sunday mornings. This is the only day I have to sleep in. I go when I can. I got really hurt by some of the church members at my last church, I am not ready to risk that happing again.

Does it matter to God if I go to church? Does it mean I am not a Christian if I don’t go to church? What if I just went sometimes, but did Bible study, prayer and meditation at home to make up for the weeks I miss?

As I grappled with this issue, the first thing I wondered was why we go to church anyway. So today we are going to look at five reasons we go to church.

Why We Go To Church

Going to church regularly is doing God’s will. – As imitators of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1), we are to follow the example set to us by Christ. There are several places in the Bible where we see Jesus going to the synagogue. (Luke 4:16; Mark 1:21; Luke 6:6) – Let’s be like Jesus!

Did you know Jesus died for the Church? If the Church is important to Christ, it is going to be His will for us to go to church. (Ephesians 5:25)

I do not believe skipping church is going to keep us out of heaven, but I do believe it is important to work through the issues holding us back from church so we can benefit from encouraging one another.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

To worship the one true God. – Worship is not about us; it is about God. It is about taking our eyes off of our own lives and standing in the presence of the one true God, as an offering of self.

As true worshipers of the Father, we stand unveiled, face to face with God. We can strip away everything hindering us in our day to day and bear our souls to God. We can worship in Spirit and truth.

Yet a time is coming and has not come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24

Although the attitude of worship is more important than the place of worship, there is nothing more beautiful than worshiping with your family of believers, which brings us to the third reason for going to church.

To be in the fellowship of other Christians. – When you became a Christian, you became a member of the Body of Christ. You became a family member and the church became your home. How exciting to know that we have a forever family.

We are all looking for acceptance and a place to belong. We need to know there is a place where love will cover a multiple of sins, where forgiveness is taught and practiced. We long for a safe place to rest and renew.

Sometimes life can be hard, and we need a safe place where we can bear our burdens. The other day I found out one of the women from my church had recently received a cancer diagnosis. The first place, other than her family, she shared this information was with her church. Immediately she was covered in prayer by a community of believers and her burden instantly felt lighter.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

To hear the preaching of the Word. – If you are going to church looking for a Ted Talk, or to hear a great motivational speaker, you may be disappointed. We can grab those experiences on YouTube anytime. What if I told you that what God provides you from a sermon is something better?

Hebrews 4:12 tells us the Word of God is alive and active. God anointed His Word to be preached from the pulpit, in order to breathe the breath of the living God into our very presence.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

However, the Preacher or Pastor is not the only person in the church with a role to play; we all have been created to participate. Your unique gifting is our fifth and final reason for attending church regularly.

To use your gifts. – You have been uniquely created, for a purpose by God. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made, to act as part of the Body of Christ. You have been given talents and gifts to share with others. The church is the perfect place to discover, grow, and use these talents. Do not withhold the blessing you are from the rest of us. We want you to be at church with us, doing the “thing” God created you to do. We all get to play!

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:10-11

Sometimes Church is Hard

Sometimes church is hard. Perhaps when we put aside our excuses and make church about God instead of about us, we can see the beauty in church.

Church is the body of Christ – your forever family.

Church is Holy. You are standing before the throne of God. That is a beautiful place to be.

Church is your emergency room. A place to be rescued and healed.

Church is the well of living water. You will have access to a never-ending supply of hope.

Church is us with Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your beautiful church. We apologize for the times we made church about us. Your church exists for your glory. Thank you for the fellowship we have in our forever family. Thank you for your living Word. Bless us in using our gifts and talents to serve one another in love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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