Church....Who Needs It?

Is regular attendance to an organized church really important?

This is the question I have been asking for a long time now. And so far...the arguments for have not been very convincing to me.

Now before we go any further, and before you send me that scathing comment that is already churning in your head....understand I am not knocking attending church, nor am I bashing people who attend regularly, but simply asking a question that I have asked and that numerous others have been asking me.

I ran across a few posts on this blog that I found interesting.

"It should be a place where we receive encouragement and give encouragement.  We should ‘give’ as much as we ‘get’ in the Church.  If it’s only one sided then there isn’t something wrong with the Church but with me. We the church, the body of Christ, are His hands and feet, which means we should be living active members in the work of Christ on the earth today."


1)  Relationship -  In Romans 12:15, Paul tells us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”  We need to be a part of each other’s lives in order to share in our blessings and our struggles.  At a former church, 2 of our values included, “to know and be known, to celebrate and be celebrated”. And I could add, “weep, and be wept for”.  As we come together, not just at the church building, but also throughout our days and lives, we can grow in relationship and have this type of support and joy.

2)  Encouragement & accountability – Hebrews 10:24-25  “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 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.”  It is so encouraging to observe others’ growing in their walk with the Lord.  We can encourage each other to love and serve others, and we can do it together!  As we come together weekly, we are reminded that we have a purpose and we have people to help us and work together toward that purpose.  It’s a team!!
Which brings me to..

3) We need each other’s gifts! – Romans 12:4-6  “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them..”  (See also 1 Corinthians 12)  Just as we need our eyes as much as we need our hands or our feet, we need each one in the body of Christ!  You and I each have a part and when one of us is missing, the body doesn’t work as well.  This doesn’t mean we can’t miss a Sunday.  But we need to be a vital part of each other’s lives.  And what better time to begin than our weekly time to worship & learn together!

So...I am interested to know...what are your thoughts? Church...Who Needs It?