The 2020 pandemic forced us to watch church services online instead of in person. We lost the habit of leaving our houses and entering the house of the Lord. Because Christians broke the habit of going to church, it became easier for us to stay home and not make an effort to attend church.
Even before the pandemic, I struggled with consistently going to church. The main reason I wasn’t going to church was that I worked almost every Sunday, but even on the rare one that I was off, I did not prioritize attending church. Being around people on my day off was a struggle. I justified not attending church because my relationship with God was good; I watched sermons online and read my Bible; therefore, I thought I was good to go. But now I realize how selfish this attitude was.
It’s About the Body
If you are among those who haven’t returned to the church building, let me encourage you to do so. Yes, you can receive the word through listening online, and yes, you are God’s temple, not the physical building. But I have come to realize that attending church isn’t about me. Oh, it benefits me, don’t get me wrong, but going to church is about the body of Christ.
Jesus is the head of the church, and we are his body; when we gather together in unity to worship him, great and mighty things can happen. Colossians 2:19 states that the body is knit together and nourished by the head, which is Christ, and we grow when we hold fast to the head.
One Unit
God intended us to be one unit, grown and developed through our relationship with Jesus. God did not design us to do our Christian walks solo. In John 17:20-21, Jesus prayed, I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their words, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they may also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. God doesn’t desire for us to only be one with himself and Jesus, but also to be one with each other in Christ.
We should not attend church out of obligation or guilt but because it is how we grow in Christ as a body and honor God. It is also not enough to take part in church on Sunday, receive your feeding, and go home. We need to become intentional with relationships within the body.
Our attitude should not be, Lord, let me receive but instead, Lord, let me be your vessel for someone else. We should desire to love God through praise and worship and show his love to people through fellowship and prayer.
The Church Needs You
Every part of the body has a job, both in the physical and the church. We can see this in Romans 12:4-8, For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
It is Selfish
The church will never fully function without the entire body moving together as one. Christians are supposed to be using their God-given gifts to grow the church. The church needs what you can contribute. Choosing to stay at home when you are able-body and can attend church shows that you are thinking of your needs and not the needs of others. You are satisfied because the sermon and worship service filled you, but you are not thinking about your role in the church.
The body of Christ needs you. It is time that we leave our selfish bubbles and find our roles to play within the church. We all need each other; the nursery needs someone to serve. The Sunday school class needs a teacher, the church needs your generosity, and the hurting and sick need your prayers. It is time we get involved in growing the church and stop solely thinking about how it can benefit us.
Instead, let’s ask God how we can contribute to his body and heed Hebrews 10:23-25, which states, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised, is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Referenced Veres: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A19&version=ESV https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John17%3A20-21&version=ESV https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A4-8&version=ESV https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10%3A23-25&version=ESV
Leave a Reply