Why Go To Church, Part 1

Recently the question “Why go to church?” has been posed often to me. Such a question brings many answers, some good; some bad. Most given answers are devoid of any Bible, or if there is Bible to back a position, used passages are out of context. Examine the reasoning used in this list, which is not exhaustive by any means, but some of the most common responses are listed. The Bible does have reasons for church, which will also be discussed – though maybe not in this article due to size issues. So, why go to church?

1. To get to heaven. Many people reason that going to church earns them a place in Heaven. Conscience tells a person, to some extent, that “going to church” is a good thing. To what level the individual conscience has been seared is relative, but certainly in America the idea, that going to church is good, abounds. From the Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, and most Protestant Denominations standpoint, going to church is a good work from which God bestows His Grace. Not to be trite, but checking our premises is necessary as Christians. Our premises are entirely founded in the Bible, so what does the Bible say regarding going to church to get to Heaven?

First and foremost, Ephesians 2:8-9:

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

As well as Titus 3:5-8:

5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Both passages state that works do not save. Further, Titus 3:7-8 states that those who have been born again are to maintain good works AFTER they’ve come to repentance (cf. Matthew 3:8, Luke 3:8).

Salvation is not found by “going to church.” It is only found in Christ’s finished, perfect work on Calvary.

2. Go to church for comfort. In reality, this is not a bad point, if stated from the proper stance. True Church is a comfort for the true believer. True Church can never be a comfort to the false believer/unsaved. Understandably, such a comment causes shock. What does the Bible say? To understand previous comments, defining church is necessary. Church, as many professing Christians will attest, is “a/the called out assembly of believers.” Well said, and absolutely Bible-based. Yet the common definition holds that church is a place to go for worship, but the Bible’s definition is not a place, but a state of being or existence. (forgive me for sounding overly-ethereal). Yet, upon salvation, man is made a new creature, and becomes part of the Body of Christ – that is, the church. Church transcends manmade boundaries (buildings, jail cells, countries). It is everywhere local, because the Holy Spirit made us the Temple (cf. I Corinthians 3:16-17). Further, the Bible illustrates that God does the building in Ephesians 2:13-21.

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

A few things should be noticed from Ephesians 2. First, Christ’s blood brought us together with Him (vv. 13-17). Peace is mentioned, but only to the saved, not the lost, who is still at enmity (will return to this thought after my digression). Second, at salvation, Christ’s continuing message is to the Saved far or nigh (vv. 17-18), which illustrates that the message is not for one group here, and another there, but for the entire body of Christ everywhere. Third, the saved were strangers, but at salvation are made fellowcitizens. Logically, if I am a citizen of Athens, I would be a foreigner if I were to visit Sparta. I cannot physically reside at both places; it’s either one or the other. To be a fellowcitizen with Christ, and other Christian’s I must have repented from my sins, and trusted Christ’s finished work. From this occurrence the church is built upon the chief cornerstone, Christ, and fitly framed together – therefore the church is not a physical entity (buildings etc…), but rather a spiritual creation.

With the digression in mind, the unsaved person who attends a church meeting will not find comfort. Yes, comfort may be extended by other well-meaning attendants, but True Comfort is only found in Christ. Ephesians 2 mentions enmity. Enmity against whom? The unbeliever, not the believer. God, contrary to the common unbiblical misconception, hates both the sin and the sinner (cf. Psalm 5:5 “The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou HATEST ALL THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY.” Emphasis mine.) For God to punish sin, he must punish the worker of that sin.

The religious minded person, who attends church because of point 1 together with point 2, will soon be in contradiction. Martin Luther is a good example, as well as the Apostle Paul. Both were doing religion, but could not find peace. Both went to extremes, hoping to pacify his conscience. As both were attending religious meetings, both found increasing angst. No comfort could be found, that is not until they repented of their religious doings, and put faith in Christ. Paul even went so far as to call what he was doing sin, and “this body of death” in Romans 7.

One final point for this section. The New Testament Church was commanded to be unspotted from the world, to purge out old leaven, not to join with a harlot… These commands were to keep the unsaved out! Only believers were admitted. That is not to say that man was fooled by other men, Paul was fooled by Demas, Phillip was fooled by Simon the Sorcerer for instance. When sin was spotted, it was dealt with rapidly and openly. No unbeliever would have submitted to such demands for long.

Other points will follow in further posts. For the faithful reader and student of God’s Word, be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, check what was written against the Bible, and reject my words for His. I trust that I’ve been faithful to the Word. Please do so likewise.