Why Do I Need To Go To Church?

-The church is a meeting place that Jesus Christ has called us to meet with Him as a team player. Christ is head of the church, and we won’t feel a part of the team at all if we aren’t there—we would be of little use to the team. You could also consider it like a "huddle" in football with Jesus as the quarterback.

-We need the church because it’s like a court hearing. There are things we have done during the week that are wrong and the Lord knows it! He wants a chance to straighten us out. We’re accountable to the Judge of all of life for our actions.

-The church is a family reunion. Jesus said: "Who is my family? Those who do My will." (Mark 3:33,35). We are a family rejoicing with one another, crying with one another, helping one another. We need each other’s support. We have to depend on each other.

-We need the church because it is a classroom. We are preparing for a mission. We are on an extended course of study. For the rest of our lives, we are enrolled in a course of Christian discipleship. Each week builds on the one before.

-The church is our refuge-our hiding place. The sanctuary is a place to get away from the "busy-ness" of the world. It’s a mini-retreat for us. It is a place to relax, to focus our thoughts on things above, to worship God.

-The church is our witness. Sunday is a time for us to proclaim to everyone in our community that God is supreme in our lives. As our neighbors see us get up week after week and go to church "all dressed up", they can tell Who has priority in our lives.

-The church is our victory celebration. Jesus left the empty tomb. We can celebrate His resurrection together. We set aside special days in the year to celebrate veterans, birthdays of famous persons,  so we should set aside at least one day a week to celebrate the greatest victory of all, Jesus’ triumph over death and Satan. There also is the promise of His return to some day take us unto Himself.

-We need the church because it is a fellowship, a time spent with our Father. We are children of God, and He is our loving Father. He holds us in His arms and delights to spend time with us, and we should want to be there, with others, enjoying that fellowship.

Why do we need the church? For all of the above reasons, and many more that others might add. These reasons cannot fully happen if we attempt to be Christians in isolation.

I have the privilege of being part of a church that fits the above description so well. I hope and pray that you can find one as well.