1 Peter 2:10
“Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
The church, we are now a people. We weren’t before. Originally, it was all jewish. Then Paul was called to the gentiles and Peter was told that the gospel was to go to the gentiles. Much like a club comes together from a group of people who were strangers, so did the church.
A club forms because the members have a common interest. It may be the chess club or a poker club. The members wants friends that have a common interest. The church is similar. The bible mandates church attendance. Hebrews 10:25 says, “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
Skipping church won’t send a person to hell, but it may mean the individual is not a christian. If the person is a believer and doesn’t go to church, that person will be weak in the faith. When a person doesn’t attend church, he submits himself to the same punishment as the one who has been excommunicated.
Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 5:5, “I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Sounds a little harsh. Here’s some background. If we are aware of it or not, there is a spiritual war going on. It’s between God and the devil, the angels verses the demons. They are battling over people and power. The church represents the members on God’s side. It’s as if they are in a fortress. When one is excommunicated, that one is asked to leave the fortress and be exposed to the enemy and the battle. So also, if one chooses not to attend church, that one is walking in no man’s land. They choose to stay outside of the fortress.
How does attending church strengthen us? We have a social group. That is strengthening. We are taught God’s Word, the bible. This is very important. The bible guides us in living and in attitude. Being in a group, we challenge each other with the new teaching. It’s been said that “the whole is greater than the sum of it’s parts.” There is a compounding of interest when we assemble. Our strength grows exponentially. We pray for each other. We grow excited about our faith. It’s almost like a team being built up by the coach. We are encouraged to take difficult stands, due to our social bonds.
In the military, units of soldiers are bonded together. They go through very difficult training together. Unit pride develops. They see one another as family. They take brave stands because of this alliance. God wants us to bond together in His family.
We crave social connection. That’s how The Lord made us. He wants this to be satisfied in the church. We can have social groups of nonbelievers, but we are to be connected to the church.
Our culture belittles church alliances. I have seen many westerns in which church attendance was seen as weak. Religion was seen as something for the womenfolk. The manly men didn’t go. Our culture portrays faith as unscientific, therefore it’s for the weak minded. The truly intellectual would see the folly of church alliances. Many students who go off to college stop attending church. Some return later in life, while others never do.
Lord, thank You for the church. You knew we needed social connection. You also knew the equipping and strengthening that takes place in the church. Help us to mature and to strengthen others in the church.