Going to church, being in a building with fellow worshipers. So many Christians find it okay that we don’t need corporate worship? So here are a few scriptures on why it’s necessary, then some observations. Going back to the earliest times, God planned for us to meet in a building. He said to build a tabernacle, and said, “Make a place where I may dwell among you. There I will meet with you, and I will speak with you.” (Exodus 25:8-22)
Praise and prayer individually is an important discipline of Christians. That’s only half the equation. The church is the Bride of Christ, and can’t function if people don’t attend, serve, and worship together. Back to Exodus, where the idea of gathering together was God’s idea, not us mere mortals. “From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shat take My offering…And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them...And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat. (Exodus 25:2, 8, 22). As we know and have experienced, lots of people come up for reasons not to go to church in the best of times. Now the Enemy has a built in one, convincing so many that sitting on the couch or recliner is adequate corporate worship.
We must not only attend as good disciples, but prepare for it. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” [Day approaching is about preparation for the Second Coming] (Hebrews 10:25)
Lastly and perhaps most importantly, Jesus himself made sure he went to church (in his case tabernacle), and methinks a disciple it’s way important to emulate Him as best we can. Luke 4:16----“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to read.”
Then the Apostle Paul says: “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.”
Four reasons to go to church. 1.We will find that grace is released to us, because we make room for that grace through our obedience and acceptance of the discipline of attendance. 2. It gives us a chance to acknowledge with humility, I need the Body of Christ. We need to be with the local body because we are member of a living Body, and the ‘member’ separated from its body will decay. 3. We acknowledge a distinct accountability to the Body of Christ, we show a practical availability to serve, and we allow a place and time for correction. We show up and, by our presence, thereby acknowledge we are righteously submitted to Christ’s rule in, and through, His Church. 4. We manifest a model: ‘In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works’. (Titus 2:7) By worshiping together at an appointed time, we show a pathway for other to observe---not as a self-righteous display but rather as a demonstration of the Lord’s way.
I suggest to all using this lockdown to keep people out of church is the work of the Enemy. I suggest reading or re-reading CS Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters” for clarity on how Satan deceives us. It’s at play on this issue right now. Obey God, reject the Deceiver.
Politicians don’t have the legal or moral authority to be locking Christians out of their churches, and Jews out of their synagogues. They are doing to work of the Enemy, the great deceiver. This planet has been through many pandemic and epidemics. Believers and knowers of God, of Jesus, always went to church.
Going to church, being in a building with fellow worshipers. So many Christians find it okay that we don’t need corporate worship? So here are a few scriptures on why it’s necessary, then some observations. Going back to the earliest times, God planned for us to meet in a building. He said to build a tabernacle, and said, “Make a place where I may dwell among you. There I will meet with you, and I will speak with you.” (Exodus 25:8-22)
Praise and prayer individually is an important discipline of Christians. That’s only half the equation. The church is the Bride of Christ, and can’t function if people don’t attend, serve, and worship together. Back to Exodus, where the idea of gathering together was God’s idea, not us mere mortals. “From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shat take My offering…And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them...And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat. (Exodus 25:2, 8, 22). As we know and have experienced, lots of people come up for reasons not to go to church in the best of times. Now the Enemy has a built in one, convincing so many that sitting on the couch or recliner is adequate corporate worship.
We must not only attend as good disciples, but prepare for it. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” [Day approaching is about preparation for the Second Coming] (Hebrews 10:25)
Lastly and perhaps most importantly, Jesus himself made sure he went to church (in his case tabernacle), and methinks a disciple it’s way important to emulate Him as best we can. Luke 4:16----“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and stood up to read.”
Then the Apostle Paul says: “On the first day of the week let each one of you las something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” No italics on Facebook, so let’s say ‘on the first day of the week’ is italicized.
Four reasons to go to church. 1. We will find that grace is released to us, because we make room for that grace through our obedience and acceptance of the discipline of attendance. 2. It gives us a chance to acknowledge with humility, I need the Body of Christ. We need to be with the local body because we are member of a living Body, and the ‘member’ separated from its body will decay. 3. We acknowledge a distinct accountability to the Body of Christ, we show a practical availability to serve, and we allow a place and time for correction. We show up and, by our presence, thereby acknowledge we are righteously submitted to Christ’s rule in, and through, His Church. 4. We manifest a model: ‘In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works’. (Titus 2:7) By worshiping together at an appointed time, we show a pathway for other to observe---not as a self-righteous display but rather as a demonstration of the Lord’s way.
I recommend to all using this lock-down to keep people out of church is the work of the Enemy. I suggest reading or re-reading CS Lewis’ “The Screwtape Letters” for clarity on how Satan deceives us. It’s at play on this issue right now. Obey God, reject the Deceiver.
Politicians don’t have the legal or moral authority to be locking Christians out of their churches, and Jews out of their synagogues. They are doing to work of the Enemy, the great deceiver. This planet has been through many pandemic and epidemics. Believers and knowers of God, of Jesus, always went to church.
