Going to church can be an iffy proposition to many these days. Some people don’t see a need to go to church. They have YouTube, Tik Tok, Instagram and other internet platforms to get all of God they want. Others have been to church in the past, and someone or something there has wounded them, causing them to have serious misgivings about going back to that church or another and possibly experiencing another hurt. There are others who have no use for God, or the church. Neither offer anything that they are interested in incorporating into their lives. It is antiquated and represents old teachings and traditions that have no bearing on life today.
You may identify with one of these stances, or have one of your own when you think about church – which takes us back to the original question – “Why church?”
It may seem like the question should be “Why should I go to church?” or “Why should I be involved with a church?”, but in reality, the first question that really needs to be asked and answered is this:
Who came up with the idea of church and what it is intended to be at its core?
Only after we look at who came up with the idea of “church” and what that person had in mind can we then move on to other questions about it and being involved.
Whose Idea Was “The Church”?
The idea of the church and what it is to be isn’t founded in a denomination. In fact, the concept of the church isn’t a construct of what many categorize as “religion”. The biblical concept of the church came from Christ Himself. It was His idea, His concept, and of great value to Him.
In Mathew 16:15-18 we read of Jesus’ specific reference to the church:
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Notice in verse 18 Jesus specifies that this church is His by saying “My church”. He draws a direct connection between Himself and the church. From the context, we see that Jesus’ church is made up of those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. (vs. 16)
The idea of the church came directly from Jesus, made up of those who believe that He is the Son of God. We see this in action in Acts 2:41, 46-47, as more believed in Jesus and became part of the church:
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them…
6 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added]to the church daily those who were being saved.
The book of Acts mentions the church many times, always referring to the believers in Jesus. That is who the early church was made up of – people from different regions, races, and walks of life sharing the common bond of their belief that Jesus was the Son of God and aspiring to follow after His ways as they lived life in a manner that reflected Him. The church, the body of believers, were to share the hope that they had found in Jesus and to support each other in growing to be more like Him.
The apostle Paul wrote extensively of the unique relationship between Jesus and those who believed in Him and followed after Him:
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)
Simply put, the church as Jesus intended is made up of those who believe that He is the Son of God, as explained in Romans 10:9:
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
And Jesus has a specific goal for each believer, as a member of the church, His body, to pursue:
…till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:13-16)
Who “The Church” Is
As we discuss “Why church?”, now we have a definition from scripture as to the church we are talking about. Often people refer to the church as a building, a group of people, a denomination or a set of rules. But none of those describe what Jesus set forth as His church – although His church can absolutely be a group of people who meet in a building and have a set of beliefs and rules. As the church, His church, we need to remember that we are believers IN Him, and are therefore representatives to the world OF Him as well.
You may be reading this and have experienced real hurt from a church you have attended. Specifically, real hurt from people who were part of a church or ministry. I am sorry that you’ve experienced hurt or rejection in a place and from people who you thought would be safe. It grieves me hearing the stories of people who have suffered from hurts from those in the church while they were seeking after God. We should be better than this.
Don’t allow your disappointments with people to cause you to shy away from Jesus. Jesus didn’t fail you, and His church as a whole didn’t fail you – but some of the members of the body did. As we’ve discussed earlier, His vision for His church is a place of love and growth – growing to be more like Him and following after Him in all of His ways. We should be walking in kindness, integrity, and humility toward each other. We should also be willing to lay down offense, forgive, and move forward with Jesus. Don’t let past hurts rob you of your future. God has so much in store for you as you walk with Him.
Why Is Church Important
So why is church so important? Because God knows we aren’t made to do life by ourselves. Jesus knew that those who believed in Him would need each other for support, to learn from, and to share life with. Their approach to life was going to be different than the world around them, and He gave Himself for them with the greatest love:
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27)
He also wants us to be holy and without blemish – and that is our individual responsibility. We can support each other, teach each other, pray for each other – and that is where church comes in. You can’t be an island and have the life that God desires for you to have. The church – Jesus’ church – comes together to have a sustaining impact on each other’s lives. We are meant to grow together, laugh with each other, cry with each other, and strengthen each other. What you receive from others in these ways, you are meant to give as well. Jesus’ church, His body, is not meant to be a spectator event. We are to interact with each other in meaningful ways – and you have something that other people can benefit from. I can say that because God made you unique and has deposited in you giftings that have value and purpose. Those around you need them, and if you will allow God to work in your life, He can take what seems to be a dull, rough stone and polish it into something of beauty and value. That’s why church.
Being part of Jesus’ church will require something from you. The New Testament is full of instruction on the life Jesus desires you to live, but contrary to popular belief, it isn’t a set of rules that cramp your style. It is the wisdom and advice of someone who knows the path, where the pitfalls are, and the best way to have a fulfilling life that brings peace and meaning.
Why church? Because Jesus gave His life to establish it and continues to watch over each believer with an undying love, calling us to be there for each other as we grow each day to better reflect His character and love in our own lives.
Why church? Because you can have a life of purpose and answers as part of the Body of Christ. You can be the person you wish you had encountered when you were hurt. You can be the example to others of how to be more like Jesus.
Why church? Because if you don’t know Jesus, you can find Him there. You can grow in your relationship with Him, alongside other believers who desire to do the same – and find community and relationships that will enhance your life.
Why church? Because it can make the difference in your life.
