New Year’s Resolution: Go to Church More. Is it biblical?
I am getting off to a slow start this year. My lovely wife shared her latest round of covid with me. I seldom get sick but when I do, it is tough sledding.
Around this time of year, people evaluate how they have been living and decide to make some resolutions for change. For some Christians, dusting off their Bible for Christmas services might prompt them to declare they will attend church more. If your friend or family member told you they were planning on attending more often, you might think it is good news, but is it?
Church attendance is not a biblical goal. You will not find any Scripture that says on Sunday mornings you need to get every capable person in your home to a church building for music and a sermon. You might think about Hebrews 10:25, but that would take Scripture out of context.
Here are some reasons some are motivated or newly motivated to go to church:
Reputation- while it is not as fashionable as it might have been in the past, there are still areas in which church attendance is a source of pride and if you stop going, people will notice.
Kind of like number one. If you stop going, you might get or feel harassed or judged.
Good for business. I admit I prefer giving business to fellow church goers. This can backfire if you are reluctant to be gracious if things do not turn out like they should. 1 Corinthians 6:7 can be challenging.
Enjoyment/Entertainment- Some people chase the good feelings they get when the music hits them just right. Some preachers are excellent speakers, and some know what people want to hear.
Earning favor with God. Some people believe that by “sacrificing” an hour plus drive time on Sunday, it will make God happy/happier with them. This is a lie.
Socialization- some people use church to help make friends, take part in social activities, and even as a place to mingle for dates.
Children-the desire for them to have the “church experience.” Even some non-believers will take their kids to in hopes they will make good quality friends.
What do each of the seven items have in common? They are all about what a person gets from church. When these are the primary reasons instead of side benefits of going to church, it makes the person a consumer. Some churches cater to consumers to increase their numbers and contributions, but these churches are not acting biblically.
We are not asked to just attend church; we are asked to BE the church.
Being the church means plugging in and leaving the comfort of your individuality behind. It means it is not about you; it is about other people. You have a job to do, and you are equipped to do it.
If you are uncertain what it means to plug into a church, there are many passages of Scripture to help you out and I may cover it more in a future post. Part of it is getting involved in some church activities and areas of service. Part of it is helping fulfill the Church’s mission, which is teaching, spreading the Gospel, and creating disciples. What many people miss are our responsibilities to each other. Some phrases the Bible uses are bearing each other’s burdens, building up the church, being unified, admonishing, encouraging, praying for, supporting, and loving each other.
You might say that some people just need to spend time in church before they do what they should do. This is a common debate in churches. The problem is that by itself this idea of church attendance just being the first step fails far and away more than it succeeds. This is because church leaders and mature disciples are not prompting people to get involved when people remain idle. As a result, we are failing them. We are also probably making it easy for them to stop going too because I believe that for some there is emptiness in being a spectator.
Jesus established and gave you the church for your benefit.
Church is not perfect on this side of eternity because it comprises people. God is sovereign, and He knew all of this and still asks and equips us to be a part of it.
The one thing I promise you on this blog is that I will tell you the truth even when it seems to defeat the purpose of the post. What the Bible asks of as a church member will sometimes be very uncomfortable and sacrificial. You will be asked to do more and give more than you can accomplish on your own. This is to teach you to rely on the Holy Spirit.
Getting involved with the church community also means you may get let down and hurt by them. Believe it or not, this is also good for you. As James says, trials are part of your development in faith.
For the negatives you may experience, there are many more positives. You will be blessed and amazed at what God will do.
Remember, it is better to give than to receive.
Scripture used or considered in the writing of "New Year’s Resolution: Go to Church More. Is it biblical?" By RD Montgomery
Matthew 5:45-47
Matthew 16:18
Mark 10:35-45
John 13:1-11
Acts 9:31
Acts 20:35
Romans 8:28
1 Corinthians 6:7
1 Corinthians 11:17-21
1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 13
Galatians 6:1-3
Ephesians 4:1-16
Philippians 1:27
Philippians 2:1-5
Colossians 3:16
Hebrews 5:11-14
Hebrews 10:24-25
James 1:2-4
1 Peter 2:19
Revelation 3:14-22
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