Growing up as a pastor's kid, I constantly felt under the microscope. I felt as though all eyes were on us as the pastor's family, and likely, that was not mere paranoia. We were under incredible pressure to always look and act perfect. We knew somehow my dad would be judged if we did not. I can remember driving to church, fighting in the car, my mom screaming at us from the front, and then pulling up by the sanctuary and all of us getting out with bright smiles, as though nothing had happened.
We were far from perfect, but we knew how to play the part.
When I first left home to go to college, I sought out a large church where I could attend in full anonymity. It worked for a long time. I could come and go without notice. No one knew who I was. No one looked at me or talked to me - just what I wanted.
Or so I thought.
I have gone without church twice in my life. The first time was when I was in the Peace Corps in Peru. Peru is a highly Catholic country, though there is a small Evangelical community as well. I had a hard time finding a church home there and eventually quit trying.
The second time was the time I have written about extensively in this blog.
I believe it took being without a church home for me to truly appreciate how important it is to have a community to plug into.
What is the purpose of church anyway? I know many who profess to be Christian but who don't believe church is important. Their faith is "private" or "better served at home". I know people who started doing home church with their families during COVID and have kept it up, stating they have gotten more out of it than being in a church ever did for them. I certainly know people who were pushed out of the church, or gave up on it, the jaded Evangelicals, those who don't feel there's a place in church for them anymore.
All of these circumstances lead me to question, is church necessary for Christians?
I suppose first we should explain what we mean by "church". After all, the Bible says we are the church. We, the community of believers, not a building or a place or a denomination. Wherever and whenever we gather together in Jesus' name, we could say we are "doing" church.
However, usually when we reference church, we are referring to a physical location where we participate in a worship service and perhaps other programming, as well.
Some say the purpose of church is to meet with God. It is true, however, that we can meet with God anywhere. In the car. At home. In the grocery store. On the street corner. God is everywhere we are, so don't have to go to any one particular location to meet with Him.
Some say the purpose of church is to worship God. It is true, however, that we can worship God anywhere. We worship God not only through singing songs, but also through prayer, through reading the Bible, through showing love to a neighbor, through fasting, and through being obedient to His Word.
Some say the purpose of church is to learn more about God and the Bible. We learn from teachers of the Word who have studied more than we have and who have been gifted as teachers and pastors. It is true, however, you could do this at home through books and podcasts and online church services.
You might be beginning to suspect I am leading to the conclusion that church is not necessary for a Christian.
But...
I believe it is.
Why? Three reasons: one, because of the importance of communal worship; two, because of the role of community; and three, because God tells us to.
Yes, we can meet with God and worship Him and learn more about Him on our own. But, there is something about coming together with other believers that extends beyond our own individual efforts.
Church is perhaps ultimately about bringing people together to worship communally and publicly. Scripture is full of examples of communities coming together in worship. Think about God's words (through Moses) to the Pharaoh: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me" (Exodus 9:1). Why couldn't they worship as slaves in Egypt? Because they were not allowed to meet together in large groups. Interesting. God frees His people so they can come together as a community and worship Him.
The celebration of God in Scripture is largely communal. Yes, you can worship individually, but there is a special power in coming together and worshipping God as a community of hearts and voices. Jesus said where two or three are gathered together in His name He is in our midst (Matthew 18:20). This means when we gather as a church and call upon His name, He is there with us. Church can provide those anchor point moments, helping us to sustain and grow in our faith. Helping us to encounter God in more empactful ways.
We are very focused in our culture on independence and individualism, forgetting we were created as social beings who need one another. The church community is meant to be there for Christians so we may build each other up. Encourage one another. Speak truth over each other. Love one another. Share resources and meet needs and pray and anoint with oil. This is the role of the community. We miss that - all of that - when we are on our own. It is easier to fall away from our walk with Jesus if we are not plugged in somewhere. We need our brothers and sisters around us to hold us accountable - and we do the same for them. The church community, likewise, is an opportunity for service and put God's love into action. This, too, is how we grow.
Scripture says, do not give up meeting together (Hebrews 10:25). The book of James also talks about the power of a meeting church. Church is after all a glimmer of Heaven to come, when we will gather before the throne and worship together, people of all races and languages and backgrounds. It gives us hope.
I know how hard it can be to get up on a Sunday and haul the family off to church. I know how tempting it is to sleep in, to rest, to be lazy. I know how going to church can stir up old wounds. I know there are churches out there who are irresponsible, who cause harm to others, and who are more political than faithful. I know how it is hard to find a good church! It took us six months and over a dozen churches, close to 20 probably, to find one. It's not perfect, but it's pretty close, and we are planting ourselves there.
The value of a good church, of a community within which you can be planted, stretch your roots, grow into the Son....
Is priceless.
We all need church. We all need a church community.
Keep trying until you find the right one. One which keeps Christ in the center of everything. One which invites you into God's presence. One which encourages you to respond to all God has done for you. One which does not let you come and go without at least one person welcoming you, acknowledging you, remembering you.
Those churches do exist.
They may not be perfect, but they may be just what you need for right now. And, likely, your presence there, will make them even better.
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