Why Go to Church?

As a Christian who wants to grow in faith and knowledge of God, recently I asked myself, "Why do I want to go church?".  Have you ever thought about that?  Not, why should I go to church but why do I want to go to church.  What can going to church do for me that I cannot get anywhere else?

There are several alternatives to going to church: I can study the Bible with my family or by myself, (I have an extensive library of books, DVD's and computer programs on Christianity), I can go to any number of Bible Study groups, I can watch TV preachers and teachers, I can even go off alone to be with the Lord and fast and pray and ask Him to reveal things to me.

All of those are great things to do and we should; spend time alone with the Lord, read and study the Bible for ourselves, have Bible reading or devotions with our family, possibly join study groups and while using discernment watch some of the Christian TV programs.

While those alternatives to going to church will give me more knowledge and draw me closer to our Lord, they will not give me true support or fellowship.  All of us have a need to belong. People join social clubs, support groups, fraternal organizations, political groups, book clubs, senior citizens groups, sports clubs, hunt clubs, teams, neighborhood groups,and even gangs, etc...  A social group has been defined as two or more people who interact with one another, share similar characteristics and collectively have a sense of unity.[Wikipedia]

I believe people join groups because we were created to have fellowship.  Along with a need to belong we also have a need to worship.  This is something deep inside of us. All cultures worship something or someone.  Ideally, we can find a group of people that share common interests with us.  Sometimes that is hard to do.  We may live in an area that does not have many options.  When that happens we may have to compromise or "agree to disagree" on some things.  We should never compromise our relationship to God.  We should never compromise the Bible as God's Word and the ultimate authority.  We should never compromise our convictions.  We can agree to disagree on things like does Santa Claus have a place in Christmas, but I can stand on my conviction of Christmas being strictly a religious celebration of Jesus' birth and you can have jolly old St. Nick at the church Christmas party.

So, as I asked myself why I want to go to church, I came up with these reasons:

1. I have a need to belong. I don't want to be on the outside looking in. John 17:20,21 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."

2. I consider my fellow church members as family. None of my extended family lives near me. My parents are deceased, my sister and cousins etc...live in another state.

Psalm 68:5,6 "A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows,Is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families;  He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land."

3. I have a need to be accountable. I know how hard it is to keep a fire burning if you remove the logs from the stack and set them apart, it is the same with Christians, we can burn much brighter when we are together.1 Thess.5:11 "Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." 1 Thess. 5:14 "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all."

4. I have spiritual gifting to share. All believers are gifted and the gifts are to build up the church. There are four passages of Scripture that lists the gifts (1 Cor.12:8,9,10,11,28,29,30; Romans 12:4,5,6,7,8; Ephesians 4:7,8,9,10,11,12).

5. I have a need for corporate worship. I can only imagine the heavenly choir praising God without ceasing eternally. When praising Him with my brothers and sisters in Christ I get a little taste of heaven. Colossians 3:16,17"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Ephesians 5:19 "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord..."

6. I have a need for corporate prayer. Just knowing that I can share both my burdens and blessings with others is uplifting.1 Timothy 2:1,2,3,4 "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

7. I want my obituary to say she was a member of...church. I want my life to be a testimony to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and my obituary to include what Christ has done in my life.