Do
We Have to Go to Church if We Are Christians?
Short Answer: No.
Longer Answer: We don't go to Church - or do anything as Christians - in order to show God how pious we can be. He isn't up there withholding His blessings until we show up in Church instead of climbing on Sunday; or until we start having daily devotional time with Him. As humans, we add ritual to anything, but God doesn't share that need. In fact, He often lets us know that He hates ritual. Religion is, in fact, a collection of such rituals, and that collection is a shallow counterfeit for what God has in mind for us...that is, a simple but profound family relationship that is based on our "doing" nothing more than knowing and acknowledging His supremacy as the One and only God; and the fact of what He did for us on the Cross. It is pride that keeps many people from being able to do that, but that's another article (see Salvation)
Why Church?
The Bible does urge us not to neglect "the gathering of ourselves together" as Christians; and Jesus calls The Church His "Body" and His "Bride." By these things alone we know that - although it isn't "required" for Salvation - Church is important. At the very least it is a place where we go to
- Listen to others who have devoted more time and education to Bible study offer their guidance and leadership. In all other life endeavors, we accept that other people have chosen to become uniquely qualified to teach, so why would Faith be any different? Some have abused this position, but on the whole pastors faithfully and humbly fulfill a vital role in God's Plan. God has always chosen to partner with man - imperfect as we are - to further His objectives. It's part of our unbelievable privilege as His children.
- Recharge our Spirit through fellowship with like-minded people. We are called to live in the real world, "outside our cocoon," but the regular encouragement of the body of believers is vital.
- Have an outlet for ministry. Collectively, we can do so much more in the world when we pool our resources - both in terms of money and talents - into a Church.
- Lastly, we go to be "at God's House" because we like to visit those we love. Not that He is confined by walls. I never feel a moment's guilt if I go climbing or flying or something else on Sunday. But if I miss too many Sundays, I start to miss my Church.
- Many folks say that they feel more "with God" in a meadow or a forest than in Church. I would agree wholeheartedly. Anywhere that we are fellowshipping with Him is Church, and I feel Him outside too. As an aside, though, I would add that
"Nature makes a great Church; but a fool's god"
But Isn't Church Just One More Man-Made Institution That's Fed By Money
Money is not an evil thing. Greed is, but that is VERY different. In fact, the oft misquoted Biblical passage actually says that the "LOVE OF" money....is the root of all evil. That's different from saying that money itself is. Further, the Bible talks more about money than it does any other subject. God isn't afraid of it, and even makes clear in The Parable of the Talents that the servant who failed to turn a profit with the funds he was given had committed the SIN of laziness. So money is a tool that God actually values.
For money to be a factor in Church operations is just a fact of life. Churches need money in order to send out ministers and see to the needs of the community around them; and we show very profoundly where our hearts lie when we devote our financial resources to something. In the old days, the same idea of sacrifice - which is so important in the Bible - was accomplished through burnt offerings...nothing more than that time's way of sacrificing a portion of wealth to God. Only through sacrifice do we put our priorities in their proper places.
I would hate to see money wasted in a Church. But I also don't consider it a waste for a Church to have a nice building, or a good sound system...as long as those things serve the ministry, and not just serve themselves. For people to have a nice place to congregate is not a bad thing, or a misuse of resources. Of course, I do have a problem if those things are gold-plated, or when a "minister" misuses his fund-raising capacity for his own greed. God, in fact, reserved His only venom for such people - even as He blessed blatant sinners - in His Word. There's room for abuse, sure, but I think it's evident when it happens.
Try Not to be a Cynic
I guess if I accomplish nothing else with this article I would want you to avoid being a cynic about Church. I believe in being a skeptic; but it's when one's skepticism starts with assuming the worst and won't be dissuaded by the facts that one becomes a cynic.
God Is Not Short of Cash, Mister
I used to look cynically at Church long after I was Saved...I would look at a service and say "wow, they just spent $10,000 on hand bells - or on new carpet - that could have gone to feed the poor in some third world country." I wondered about how that would look to a visitor who didn't yet know God. But then I realized that God has an unlimited ability to bless us and the things we do. Just as my personal finances didn't start to grow until I began to tithe a substantial portion of my income to ministry, so too can all things given to the Church grow beyond our human outlook towards asset allocation when we keep God at the center. He is not going to be limited - or "short of cash, mister" as Bono of U2 puts it - by our buying new carpet. As proof of this fact, every Church I know that is ministry-focused pays off their thirty year mortgage in a year or two. I've seen it time and again...and then they are free to devote that much more directly to ministry.
