Q&A: Is Church Attendance Necessary?

Question

What are some reasons why I should attend church?

Answer

Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. It is a place where people connect.

The church is a place where Christians and even non-Christians "connect" and where understanding both God and one another can be done more fully. It is a place for our sins to be exposed, discussed, evaluated, and dealt with in a biblical way. True connection happens when we understand both ourselves and God more.

Moreover, going to church is a visible, tangible expression of our love and worship toward God. Receiving the preaching/teaching of the Word of God increases our faith and builds us up spiritually. In addition, there is the promise of a special visitation of the Lord's presence whenever two or more gather specifically in the name of Jesus. By implication, this means whenever Jesus is the object of gathered prayer, worship, praise, preaching, and the sacraments, etc., gathering together also has compounded importance to the relationship of the Christian brethren. The Bible makes it clear that a right relationship with God requires a "vertical" and "horizontal" alignment - a vertical fellowship with God and a horizontal fellowship with other believers.

Not to be forgotten here is that going to church is also a matter of obeying God's Word. The writer of the Hebrews tells us not to forsake assembling together, implying that continued absence can lead to willful sin (Heb. 10:24-26). It also honors the Lord's Day. Further scriptural evidence that we are to be a part of a church fellowship is that we are told to submit to the authority of spiritual leaders (Heb 13:17), and that, of course, should be within the boundaries of God's Word. This is a God-designed system of accountability for the progress and protection of his flock (Matt. 18:16 ff).

While these are some of the reasons why one should attend church, many more could be named.