This is a rather interesting question as the importance of going to church is just one of those understood things of the Christian faith. Or so it seems. It appears to be a rather important question as a large number of supposed Christians don't seem to go to church. Granted, going to church does not guarantee salvation. There are plenty of "good", churchgoing people who are deluded and relying on their own works for admission to heaven. We are saved only by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. However, acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior is only the beginning of our lives as Christians.

This section is for people who cannot be bothered with going to church and purposefully and consistently stay away from church. I believe that such people cannot remain Christians for several reasons. But fear not, others may find this helpful. This may benefit those of us who have forgotten why we attended in the first place or those who have yet to move beyond parental compulsion or mere habit. For those of us who are currently holding our heads high thinking how we fit none of these descriptions, we must attempt to glean what we can from this and ask the Spirit of God to humble us that we may learn and recognize our faulty attitudes or actions rather than mechanically nod our heads as we think of those other people who need to hear this.

The New Testament has no examples of anyone who was right with God but also stood alone and did not spend time with other believers. As 1 Corinthians 12 explains, we make up the body of Christ. The church (the body) is made up of individuals who work together, pooling their talents, skills, and strengths - all for the purpose of proclaiming the Good News and drawing nearer to Him. To refuse to be a part of the body is to say that we do not want to follow God's plan. In a sense, such people believe that by acting on their own that they have a better plan than God does.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25). We have an obligation to support our brothers and sisters. To say that their well-being isn't worth fellowship is, to say the least, quite selfish. It is also a sinful pride that leads us to believe that there will never be a time when we shall need the love and assistance of our brothers and sisters. When one of my brothers lost his father, the youth group pulled together to support him and grieve with him. Without his brothers and sisters, he would have been much more lost and alone. I pray that we truly showed him the love God has for him as well as the love we have for him. To do any less is unacceptable.

In addition to support, "we are to spur one another on toward love and good deeds". "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17). We are to help each other grow in the Lord. Accountability is a necessary and important practice which will keep us on the path of God's will. Due to our incredible powers of rationalization, we sometimes convince ourselves that the wrong way is indeed justifiable. Clear thinking brothers and sisters can prevent us from such stupidities. Once again, sinful pride appears, making some believe that they can live a Godly life just fine without any assistance.

If you claim to want to grow in the Lord and love Him, church is not an option. To grow, we must rely on the wisdom of more mature Christians (i.e. pastors, etc.) to teach us about God and how to live a godly life. More learned Christians will make sure we don't misinterpret passages of the Bible. As we rely only on our knowledge and understanding, we end up creating our own false, idolatrous God. As mentioned before, the belief that the church is not necessary in order to grow in the Lord is a result of pride.

However, this pride is often mixed with something else. If someone earnestly wants to seek the Lord and follow His ways, there really is no excuse for not going to church. As we drift from church, we tend to drift from His ways and His love. In essence, we turn our backs on God and try to contain Him in a little box in the corner of our minds. But God will not be contained nor will He be silent. Being Christian is not just about knowing in the back of your head that Jesus is pretty cool. If we find that we really have no passion for the Lord, then I suggest we honestly question what we believe. Our beliefs are evident through our actions. If we find ourselves confused as to what we really care about, I suggest we pray as the lost; that Christ would come into our lives. Pray for a passion for God. If there is any desire at all within us to have a relationship with God, we must go to church or we will be committing spiritual suicide. Go to church to grow in God. At the very least, we must realize that we can't very well call ourselves Christian if we have no desire whatsoever (besides guilt) to go to church. True passion for God makes us want to go to church. Don't tell me you don't have enough time because that's a lie. Don't tell me that church people are unfriendly because church is about Jesus first and fellowship second (and if they're Christians, they'll come around sooner than you think). Besides, there are tons of different churches everywhere so find one in which you can grow and stick with it.

The church is often referred to as Christ's bride. His love was so great for His bride that He was willing to bear the cross for her. Christ obviously holds the church in high esteem, and thus we should as well. People who say "I love Jesus, but I do not want to have anything to do with the church," are putting up a wall between themselves and Jesus. Christ instills a new heart with God-pleasing passions and desires. Love for the church is not optional. As Derek Webb put it so simply, "You cannot care for [Christ] with no regard for [the church]." I admit that aspects of the church are unattractive and far from the dazzling beauty she will one day shine with. At times, beautifying the body seems to be more trouble than it's worth. The church has been responsible for much emotional and even spiritual harm. But we must see the church through the eyes of Christ. His gaze is full of love, grace, and hope. We must see that the bride is something worthy of our time, our energy, our patience, our love, and if need be our lives.

So what did we learn today?

church = good
no church = bad

Obviously there are qualifications for this statement regarding such issues as what is a true church and how church attendance quite often leads to people simply believing they are better than those who are absent. These are important and valid issues which require discussion later, but such objections in this context are rather irrelevant to the issue of the necessity of church attendance in and of itself. Trying to direct attention elsewhere in order to avoid this obvious mandate from the Word is a rather childish waste of time.

Christians must go to church to learn and grow, for fellowship, and for a variety of other reasons. The Bible is clear. We need the church desperately. And we must love and cherish her. Christ calls for nothing less.

the church by derek webb

i have come with one purpose
to capture for myself a bride
by my life she is lovely
by my death she's justified

i have always been her husband
though many lovers she has known
so with water i will wash her
and by my word alone

so when you hear the sound of the water
you will know you're not alone

'cause i haven't come for only you
but for my people to pursue
you cannot care for me with no regard for her
if you love me you will love the church

i have long pursued her
as a harlot and a whore
but she will feast upon me
she will drink and thirst no more

so when you taste my flesh and my blood
you will know you're not alone

there is none that can replace her
though there are many who will try
and though some may be her bridesmaids
they can never be my bride

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