Being at Church & actively part of that (local church) community matters

This resource addresses a major problem of professing believers today about importance of corporate gathering. There is much more here that can educate and bless you, and help save you a lot of pain in faq section too. 

Redeemed Believers need to be in Church

Being an active member in Church, matters. 

Actively being in the Church matters for many many reasons

Church attendance & being a member is not optional.

Being a member of a local congregation matters. 

It is the people of God whom we will be with eternally. Brethren adopted by God into a new eternal family. This is our family. 

We are set apart by God, for him and His glory.

It is communal. It is not something you participate in by tv or by vr. It is not a solo activity. It is a gathered people for a purpose.

The assembly of God. 

We are to edify, build one another up in the faith, and serve God and others in the local congregation. 

It is a living breathing community (congregation) of the people of God, which you are to be an active part of.

Worshipping God, serving God, serving others in the community together, they are the family of God. They gather and meet regularly. 

Not being in it, not participating, and not being involved there is sin & rebellion. Doing your own thing is "not" Christian. 

Believers come together. Their lives are weaved together. They help one another, serve one another, and bless one another. "Church" and "worship", "sing", "love" & "service", and "cheerfully giving". It is more then that too. We learn together, educate one another, counsel, guide, get answers to our questions, help each other mature in the faith. We celebrate, helping care for and provide for and assist the congregants who are poor, widows and orphans.  And help those who are sick, or in need of help through various life seasons such as help finding a spouse, helps through pregnancy, birth, raising up children, sickness, disease, and death. It is a full community of brothers and sisters in Christ worshipping and serving God together, and helping, blessing and being in close relationships with, and serving & blessing one another in many ways. 

Also, we gather "together" we as a unified congregation participate in partaking of the Lord's Supper, and are witnesses to public baptisms. These are all part of living the Christian life, and among those who gather together with the local congregation of believers. 

“The church by definition is an assembly. That is the literal meaning of the Greek word for “church”—ekklesia—the assembly of the called-out ones. A non-assembling assembly is a contradiction in terms. Christians are therefore commanded not to forsake the practice of meeting together (Hebrews 10: 25)" —we are to experience the close communion between believers that is commanded in Romans 16: 16, 1 Corinthians 16: 20, 2 Corinthians 13: 12, and 1 Thessalonians 5: 26. In all those spheres, we must submit to our Lord.”

A large portion of NT Scriptures were written to the Church; letters to the churches. Which are the gathered believers in the local congregation meeting together regularly. Not a group of Christian friends you meet from dozens of places in town from various churches to "hang out with" occassionally.  

Further Explained Biblically

@18:25/19:20 + 👈 

What if someone doesnt want to go to church? I would ask, Are you sure you are Christian? Then pinpoint if the problem is the love of sin. 

Disassembly is problematic. It was a growing problem before Covid era and grew since. It shows the one living that way neither understands what Christian life is, nor understands Scripture, and likely isnt reading Scripture - which shows why they are not walking rightly and obediently to the Lord per Scriptures' command. 

Cyber worship issues

Culprits of error and disobedience 

Typically those who had "Christianity" all wrong, are either not saved, or not in the Word. If you are not in the Word, your worldview becomes like the world. If you are in the Word, God is constantly changing you and making you more like Christ. He changes you. Our lives "were bought by Christ" and we "belong to him" & "follow Him". So, "It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me."

If you had the wrong understanding of what being a Christian is, and you've been doing your own thing... you need to repent, & start being obedient, today. 

Finally....

Three words used in Scripture about "Church". 

1. Keric - The facility 

2. Ekklecia - The called out ones (believers added to the body of Christ at conversion) - 

3. Sonagoga - The called together

The called out ones are called together. 

"Do not forsake the assembling together"- 

"When you come together..."

"When you meet together..." 

The Christians gathered and “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42 NASB

Ephesians 5:19

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God.

The local Church is important in the life of the believer on a consistant regular basis as noted through all info provided herein and to help a believer in their spiritual walk, growth, and much more. You as a believer are to biblically be submitting under and to the authority of the local church, which is under the authority of Christ as the Head and the leaders are shepherds there with a higher responsibility to present you to God (on that last day) as a matured believer who has conquered sins and been good stewards and servants of Christ (as individual believers). You cannot live the Christian life apart from the local church... and anyone attempting to or haphazardly going to church occassionally need to examine themselves to see if they really are saved, or are decieving themselves and living as a pretender; a false convert. 

Biblically, socially, psychologically, spiritually, God has called the congregation together. We are a living body. Christ is the head. We are one. We are a united group called to be living together as one body of believers as the eternal family of God. 

The Church also is...

*The church is Heaven on Earth. It’s the only place dominated by praise of God, exaltation of Jesus Christ, the love of what is righteous, the hatred for what is sinful... And there’s not going to be any sin in heaven, so we want to get as close to that as we can.

*The church is the pillar and ground of the truth. The church is the source of divine truth. The church is where the truth prevails that basically destroys all ideologies and falsehoods and deception and brings everything into obedience to Christ.

*It is a gathering of worshipers. We are those who worship Jesus Christ. 

*What is the church: The redeemed gathered of God, is composed of those who have been called by God to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, constitute the church. The church is His kingdom; it’s His kingdom on earth, and it’s as close to heaven as we can get without being there. 

*The church: is the kingdom of God on earth. This is where we live and move and have our being. We are a people who are bound together—I guess to simplify it—by life and love and truth.(1)

*It is a family of love. 

*The people of God who follow their risen Savior.

You may not have understood this before and that is understandable because of bad churches and teachers at the church you encountered, went to before. But after examining and studying everything here if you understand you were living wrong... repent to God and get your life straight. Get to church and be there actively and regularly. Put ypurself under the authority of the leadership and allow the church leaders and believers to help guide your spiritual walk and growth. They care for your soul. 

If you stopped going to a church, (even if it is one listed above), simply go find a biblical Christian church and get plugged in there. And read the Bible daily. Reading it will help you see the truth so you can go to a biblical church and turn away from false churches and false beliefs. 

Find a Biblical Church to join today, and be physically present & active member there

On Church Matters to know about, understand about church, and how to handle issues that might arise there.

If you havent gone thru the links... please go thru them all. That info was put together to give you a full understanding of the issues around importance of church. 

Return to Believers Resources

 

Footnote:

(1) Quote from JMac at 55 year celebration Subday 2024

(2) Top image copywrited 2024. All rights reserved 

More FAQ 

Dont look for excuses in the "What abouts"... you, you get yourself plugged into a local congregation, and obey the Lord by what is in the Word.

What about those who are in nursing homes?

*you are not in one right? It doesnt apply to you. 

*These are utilizing the sermons online from their pastor, and it is a blessing they have that. 

*most churches meet those elderly members, or go to these facilities on Sunday and have a worship service and bring cheer and encouragement

What about hospitalized?

*you are not hospitalized right?

*Families provide temporary connection to the church through devices one can access live feed sermons or pre recorded ones that relate to helping them in their current issue (drug or alcohol rehab, other rehabs, at ptsd therapy centers, or those with a disease or surgery and physical recovery reasons)

*their pastors, elders, deacons and Sunday School teachers and congregants go visit them. 

 

What about Govt not allowing worship in person ?

“The church by definition is an assembly. That is the literal meaning of the Greek word for “church”—ekklesia—the assembly of the called-out ones. A non-assembling assembly is a contradiction in terms. Christians are therefore commanded not to forsake the practice of meeting together (Hebrews 10: 25)—and no earthly state has a right to restrict, delimit, or forbid the assembling of believers. We have always supported the underground church in nations where Christian congregational worship is deemed illegal by the state. When officials restrict church attendance to a certain number, they attempt to impose a restriction that in principle makes it impossible for the saints to gather as the church. When officials prohibit singing in worship services, they attempt to impose a restriction that in principle makes it impossible for the people of God to obey the commands of Ephesians 5: 19 and Colossians 3: 16. When officials attempt to impose a restriction that in principle makes it impossible to experience the close communion between believers that is commanded in Romans 16: 16, 1 Corinthians 16: 20, 2 Corinthians 13: 12, and 1 Thessalonians 5: 26. In all those spheres, we must submit to our Lord.”

— God vs. Government: Taking a Biblical Stand When Christ and Compliance Collide by Nathan Busenitz, James Coates

States tried this with several churches across the USA during covid era, and they won in court when churches sued them. Just to note one court case: GCC in Calif won $800K. We obey God not men. 

Having odd job hours, or, What about night shift workers who have a night shift sleeping schedule and no churches in the area hold night services?

You are avail for day gatherings, that's when most churches gather together... Sunday morning. They usually also have Sunday evening, and Wednesday. Other churches have fellowship groups at homes 1x a week or every other week. Perhaps you can ask older retired ladies to have a study at one of their homes (or on rotation), or at your place, on a day you have off. I am sure the pastor and leader over the Sunday School teachers & fellowship groups would be happy to set that up for you. 

Also, we must decide is it better to obey the commands of the Lord and gather in the Lord's Day with His body, or keep a specific Job? Christians reprioritize our lives for the Lord. The world wants to pull us from Him at any opportunity, but if we make it priority then things will go well. The SCOTUS recently ruled that companies cannot make faith people work on days they worship. So let your employer know you are not available on Sunday's anymore, since you are a Christian and need to be there to worship God. They can make accommodations for others to take your place if in fact they need someone on Sunday. 

We are to be set apart from the World. The World sees no problem working or doing sports on Sunday and not worshipping. But for us, if a job or sports keeps us from following clear commands, the job or sports comes 2nd. And for sports it is best to sever that and use that time for growing in and serving the Lord. While it may be difficult for the job, if necessary, you can always get another job, and it will be worth it. Some jobs may let you work something out though. 

There is always a way to follow the Lord's command, but it will many times involve sacrifice, or at least having a convo w the boss /company, and making that change.

And just good reminder... 

when you take a new job, make sure it is noted on the job application, and then remind your boss on the 1st Friday you are working... "Have a great weekend, oh and just a quick reminder, the company agreed to my religious exemption, having Sunday's off, when I was hired. I must be at worship, so please remember that when setting the work schedules." Don't stick around. Just smile and wave as you walk away, excited for the weekend. If the boss doesnt try to make an issue of it, great. If they try, say you noted it on the application and you were hired so from the company perspective they agreed to that when they hired me knowing that on the application, and scotus recently ruled on that. I am happy to work another day if necessary otherwise another employee could take that shift and it wont be an issue since the job will be filled with another employee. *If you also note on the application Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday evenings... then you are set for being free those days, since they hired you knowing those were days and mid week you were not available to work. Make sure to get a copy of the application or at least take a photo of it before you hand it in. 

Now the things discussed in this post and it's links are about the Biblical Church of Scripture, of the born again believers. Not the catholics, not the orthodox, not the episcopalian, anglican, nor apostolic, nor 7th day adventist, mormon or jehovah witnesses, the word of faith'ers, modalists, liberal progressives, or any other Idolatarous group ... but only the true biblical actual Church of the true Christians. 

Find a Biblical Church to join today, and be physically present & active member there

On Church Matters to know about, understand, and how to handle issues that might arise there