Without wavering
Monday, 22 February 2016
One of the things I’m often asked is whether or not you have to go to church to be a Christian.
I like what Billy Graham says:
“Being in church no more makes you a Christian than being in a garage makes you a car.”
You do not have to go to church to be a Christian.
But attending church serves-
– a minimum three-fold purpose to help us grow in our faith.
Worship-
– with other believers.
You can worship God out on the lake, or on the golf course.
But we miss out on the encouragement of others and we miss out on them being encouraged by us.
Fellowship-
– in the Body of Christ.
And lone ranger Christians don’t do well in the journey of faith.
When we’re not in church, we miss out on the rich fellowship of other meaningful relationships with believers.
Stewardship-
-Church is a place where we can use our gifts in service and ministry.
But not only that, not attending your church is just plain selfish, because it denies sharing your spiritual gifts with fellow believers.
While you don’t have to come to church to be a Christian-
– failure to attend retards your spiritual growth.
While you do not have to be in church to be a Christian-
– it is certainly the place where you are needed and where the committed Christian wants to be.
“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25).
(PR)