I can’t really tell if it’s every where, but the number of people in church these days isn’t encouraging and we need to address it. I don’t know why most Christians have concluded that going to church can be option. I understand perfectly that going to church does not make you a Christian but you should also understand that going to church is an essential part of being a Christian and shouldn’t be an option to the believer.
To be a Christian isn’t only about being part of a religion, and even if it is you should know that every religion has something peculiar that makes it stand out. We say Christianity is a way of life, if so, then as a way of life which I’ve learnt from Social Studies as the definition for culture( culture is the way of life peculiar to a group of people) we also do things which are peculiar to us and makes us stand out. Going to church is one of them, it is the way we live and it is part of us.
You don’t choose whether or not to go church as a believer. Of course, sometimes we need to go to work or our presence may be needed else where which is beyond our control, that is understandable. But if nothing holds you down and you have control, church shouldn’t be an option.
The few hours we spend in church does not make us Christians infact we spend more hours out of church than we do in church but the church is very important for your growth and maturity as a Christian. As a church, we strengthen each other(Proverbs 27:17), we help each, we bless each other with our spiritual gifts( I Corinthians 12:7) and the church plays an important role in the development of talents and gifts. We become one body when we fellowship together. On the day of Pentecost, the believers had gathered together praying and even before the day of Pentecost they were in the habit of meeting together to study the word and pray( Acts 2:42-43). They were meeting regularly.
When we come together to worship and fellowship together, we become the churh( the body of Christ)-1 Corinthians 12:12. Together we stand divided, we fall: that is to say if you walk alone, apart from other believers, you become an easy prey for the enemy.
May I caution you though, the church is not without problems but that shouldn’t deter you from being a part of one.
Please join a church and go to church! If you are part of one too, don’t give up on the church because the church is an essential part of Christianity.
Hebrews:10.25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another– and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
LIVING THE VALUED LIFE.