Why Church?

A question often asked is, “Why Church?”

This can be another way of asking, “Can a person be a Christian without going to church?”

There are, of course, a number of ways to look at this.

Perhaps the best place to start is by asking another question.

What exactly is church?

When some people think of church, they think of the church building.

It is important to understand that the church and the church building are not the same thing.

The word church is far more about the body of believers and whom they choose to worship.

Last Sunday when I arrived for worship I discovered that the neighborhood was without electricity.

We could have chosen to worship outdoors and still have been a church.

Matthew 18:20 (NET) - For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.

Some people move around, trying one church then another.

If asked why, they might tell you that they are looking for “the perfect church”.

Frankly, that is something they will never find because it does not exist.

The church on this earth is imperfect because it is composed of imperfect people.

People like me.

Even on my best day, I am anything but perfect.

The church can help us with that.

Philippians 3:12 (NE) - Not that I have already attained this—that is, I have not already been perfected—but I strive to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus also laid hold of me.

A church must be about worship.

It must help point people toward God and strengthen their relationship with Him.

Now it goes without saying that there are a number of different churches out there.

Just last week, I attended a wedding at a church that was not my own.

They do things differently than we do them.

That’s okay.

It does not matter that we each do things differently.

What matters is that we each, in our own way, strive to bring glory to God.

Another question asked is: “Can someone attend church and not be a Christian?”

Absolutely!

Being a Christian means having a relationship with God.

A relationship made possible through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

This relationship has a profound impact on how we choose to treat others.

Without this relationship where we are at any given time is not the issue.

The church can help, but it is the state of a person’s heart that matters most.

Mark 12:29-31 (NET) - Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

The church experience provides the Christian with a number of things.

It gives us a small taste of what heaven will be like.

It connects us with a body of believers who are united in spirit.

It provides us with opportunities to serve in ways that would not be possible on our own.

There are other things as well.

So, the next time someone asks me the question, “Why church?” I just might ask in return, “Why not?”

I wonder where that might lead.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at http://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, July 7, 2017.

I will be back here on Friday, July 14, 2017