Believer's Life

Christian, Get Yourself to Church!

David Scott Fields II, Senior Writer • January 15, 2021

YouTube can often be a mixed blessing. Like so many other forms of social media, we can often waste far too much time watching one pointless video after another. Nevertheless, every once in a while something grabs your attention that is truly worthwhile. Recently for me it was a video called “Do I have to Go to Church to Be a Christian” by WWUTT (When We Understand the Text). The video begins with a blunt statement, “Though you may call yourself a Christian, if you don’t go to church, you’re probably going to Hell.” As harsh as it may seem, this is likely so true!

No, just going to church does not save anyone, but church should be a place every believer longs to be. Genuine believers in Christ are all part of the body of Christ, the Church, so we need to meet together as often as possible. Scripture itself says in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (ESV). This passage is clear that our meeting together is vital and it should be increasing – not decreasing. In our rapidly changing and increasingly antagonistic toward Christianity culture, we may all soon consider meeting with fellow believers both vital and precious – especially if it one day becomes against the law!

Just as your finger is useless without the rest of your body, individual believers don’t usually stand strong for very long apart from the body of Christ. There have been some extreme circumstances in history when God’s grace has sustained Christians who have been cut off from other believers, but even they likely longed for that fellowship to the point that it hurt. In general, though, if you have the ability, you need to be connected with and serving the local church if you call yourself a true follower of Christ. We all need each other! Though going to church does not equal salvation, it is a place all genuine believers are commanded to be as often as possible. If you don’t agree, then you should ask yourself if you are even a believer at all.

References

Scripture quotations are from The ESV ® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

WWUTT. “Do I have to go to church to be a Christian?” (2019) Click here to view. (Accessed January 15, 2021). WWUTT is not affiliated with and does not endorse Thrive Christian Press.