Author’s note: Since this article deals with the importance of church attendance, I decided to include a picture of a church that is special to me and my family. It is Calvary Baptist Church of Keokuk, Iowa. This month my good friend John Heath celebrated 30 years of pastoring this church! You would have to look for a long time to find a better pastor, mentor, or friend than Pastor Heath and I know many people in the Keokuk area can attest to his love for God and God’s Word. Happy 30th anniversary, Pastor Heath, and I hope the Lord gives you many more!

Q: Pastor Paul, I consider myself a Christian, I have accepted Jesus as my Saviour, but I don’t get the push for Christians to go to church. I’m not against church, but why is it important for me to attend regularly? Why do other Christians always invite me to their church? Maybe I’m missing something, but I like the relationship I have with God right now without complicating it any further. – Gary

A: Gary, I’m glad to hear that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Personal Saviour. That is the most important decision anyone can make, and it is the first of many decisions that will make an eternal impact on your life, and the lives of those around you.

I don’t want to be unkind, but I do think you are missing the bigger picture when it comes to church attendance. It is true that a person does not have to attend church to know Jesus as their Saviour; all that is required for salvation is knowledge of one’s sin, believing the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus paid the debt that your sin owes, and accepting the free gift of salvation by faith. However, the Believer who neglects church is neglecting one of the greatest blessings of the Christian faith.

To start with, let’s talk about the origin of the church. In the Old Testament we do not have church. In those days there were only two institutions that were established and sanctioned by God – the home and government. In the Gospel Records of the New Testament we have the founding and foundation of the church. In Matthew 16 the Lord Jesus Christ asks His followers who they say He is. Simon Peter, the leader of the group, boldly declares that, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16.16) Jesus commends Peter for his bold statement and tells him, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock [the foundational truth that Jesus is the Son of God] I will build my church.” (Matthew 16.18) This is the first mention of the church anywhere in the Bible, as an organization that will be built in the future.

The next instance of the word church is found in Matthew 18. In that chapter Jesus is telling His followers how they are supposed to handle personal disputes. We won’t go into those instructions here, but He tells them their final step in dealing with these issues is to “tell it unto the church” (Matthew 18.17). This is notable because the word church here is in the present tense. From this change in tenses we can infer that the church begins sometime after Matthew 16.18 (future tense) and before Matthew 18.17 (present tense).

The church is the only institution begun by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He said He would build His church, and the gates of Hell would not prevail against it. The Bible also tells us that “Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it;” (Ephesians 5.25b). The church is the institution with Jesus as its Head, “And he [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1.18)

One of the chief reasons we should go to church is because we are commanded to attend church. “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)

Another great reason to attend church is so our faith will grow as we listen to the preaching from God’s word. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10.17) Earlier in the same chapter Paul is discussing hearing God’s word and he asks, “How shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10.14b) There is no substitute for sitting in church hearing the word of God proclaimed with boldness by the preacher.

The last reason I’ll give you for attending church regularly is one of practicality. Every person, whether they are a Believer or not, requires some amount of fellowship with other people. In the book of Genesis we learn that we were designed to fellowship with God and with one another. We are made to be social creatures.

The church gives believers the opportunity to interact and fellowship with other believers, those who also know and love the Lord. I’ve often said that I don’t know how someone gets through life without a church family, and I sincerely mean it. A church family encourages, prays for, lifts up, and helps one another in innumerable ways. It truly is a family made up of people from all walks of life who have one thing in common: their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Gary, I hope you, and all my readers, will find a Bible preaching, Bible believing church to be a part of. Not only will you be obedient in doing so, but you will also benefit in ways you can’t imagine!