Have you ever wondered why you go to church?
Have you ever thought about the reasons why you make church attendance a part of your life?
I was thinking about the Biblical reasons why I go to church. To me, these aren’t really reasons but commands. Commands from God for the Christian that should be obeyed.
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“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
This is one of the most recognized verses when it comes to church attendance. We are command to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. I have always thought and believed that this verse was about church attendance Sunday morning, Sunday night, and the mid-week service.
Over the last few months, I have started to question this verse and what it actually means. In Sunday School a while back, my teacher stated that he believes it means everything that a church has to offer, you be there and be a part of it.
So no, I haven’t question my church attendance and whether I should go or not, I have question how faithful I am to other church events and activities.
It makes sense if you think about it. The Bible states “…and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” That day is the day of the Lord, the Return of Christ! We should want to assemble with our fellow believers whether it be in church or soul winning or activities and events.
This verse tells us to exhort one another. Exhort one another to do what? To be faithful in assembling in church and its ministries and events. Exhort means to strongly encourage or urge to do something. In this day that we live in, it is hard to get people to attend church faithfully, especially with all the worldly things that we have in our lives. That is why God used the word exhort, so that we can STRONGLY encourage people to be faithful!
If you don’t faithfully assemble with your church and your do more forsaking instead of assembling, I am exhorting you, encouraging you, begging you to find a good church and get involved. Why? Because the Day of the Lord is coming and we need as many people as we can to spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this lost and dying world!
I want to focus on verses 22-24, the verses that proceed the well-known verse of “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” What is being said that is leading up to this verse?
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:22 What are we to draw near to? It is talking about the house of God as mentioned at the end of verse 21. When I read this verse, I think about salvation. I see that as we draw near, we should do it with a true heart, full of assurance of faith. When accept Christ as your Saviour you have to be true with yourself. You have to know and believe that you are a sinner who deserves Hell. You have to know and believe that you Christ and Christ alone is the only way to Heaven.
The first step in assembling is association by salvation. Yes, I know and I believe that everyone who goes to church isn’t saved. For 27 years, I was one of those unsaved church goers. Judas Iscariot served alongside Jesus Christ Himself, yet still was lost. When I look for a church to attend, I want to assemble with people who are saved followers of Jesus Christ. Yes, it is our job to witness and and lead people to Christ but I believe church is for the fellowship of the believers. The Bible says in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” When looking for a church, the first thing you should look for is how the church presents the Gospel. You need to look for a church that presents the Gospel biblically, that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Because this is how I believe, why would I attend a church that believes different? Why would I attend a church that believes that salvation is through baptism or that good works are the way to Heaven? Why would I attend a church that believes if I give my life to Christ, I will be saved?
If I am going to be a part of a church, I want to make sure it lines up with what the Bible says about salvation. The Gospel presentation that a church endorses should be Biblical and line up with the Scriptures with no man-made guideline in the presentation. I want to make sure that I am associated with a church that believes salvation is through Christ alone!
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” Hebrews 10:23 In the next verse, I see what I call our association by stand. The church you attend and the stand it takes helps define you. When I talk about the term ‘stand’ I am talking about the stand a church takes on separation from the world, the stand a church takes doctrinally. It is like that old saying, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” I want to be a part of a church that takes a stand for right, that takes a stand against wrong. A church that takes a biblical stand on separation and standards we should live by. It is alright to have guidelines and rules in place in your life to help protect you from the evil and the wickedness of this world. I want to attend a church and surround myself with people who are living a separated life and standing against wrong also. Now, I do not believe that everyone that even attends my church lives a separated life according to the Bible, and if we were all honest with ourselves, we all have room to grow. But I know that I am able to go to church and for the most part escape the world and its influence because of the type of church members that also attend.
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” Hebrews 10:24 The last thing that I see that we should consider is our association by service. I want to be associated with a church that believes salvation through Christ alone, I want to be associated with a church that stands for right and stands against wrong. Lastly, I want to be associated with a church that has a desire and a heart for serving others. What good is a church if it isn’t concerned about reaching others for Christ and being a blessing to those in its community? I want to be surrounded by people with a heart of loving and serving others. A church that is concerned with loving, serving and witnessing to others is a church that is growing. Find a church that will provoke or stir you up and encourage you to love and serve others. Each one of us individually also need to encourage those around us to serve and be a witness.
Where we go to church matters! I have stated it in previous posts that I am an Independent Baptist and I wouldn’t have it any other way. But in choosing which Independent Baptist church I am going to attend and be a member of, I want to make sure my association with that church is Biblically correct in salvation, stand and service.
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