No attendance at any church is the way to Heaven, but it is essential for a 
Christian’s growth. If one is truly saved, he should:
Wanna Go – The hungry born-again soul has a desire to be fed from the Word of God, as it is delivered by the preacher. It also desires fellowship with like-minded people.
“My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.” Psalm 84:2
“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;” Ephesians 2:19
“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.” I Co. 12:25
Wanna Grow – Church is one of the most important places where a Christian can hear God’s Word, to find out how he can improve himself, obey God, and learn what God has for him to do.
“Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.”
Psalm 92:13
Wanna Obey – We are commanded to go.
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
Wanna Pray – Although it is not the only place a Christian can pray, it is a good place.
“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13
It makes one wonder when a person, who claims to be saved, does not want to attend a church and finds excuses for avoiding it. Not regularly attending church is contrary to Scripture.
The last time I went to church the piano player gave me a cold hard mean stare. I was so uncomfortable and could not wait to get out of that church and have not been back sense.
That is a terrible reason for not going to church. You should be in church to hear more from God’s Word, not people. Besides that, there are other people. If you really cannot get your mind off of that incident, try another church. But, the truth is every church is filled with people like you and me — sinners. Since we are not perfect, we will, unfortunately, make mistakes, have bad days, and other things that may let you down. Ignore our mistakes and look for a blessing from God’s Word. That’s why we should be in church for anyway. Social reasons are secondary — at the least.
Brother,
Although it may have been my own shortcomings, I made myself go to church for years. I cannot say I enjoyed it. In fact, I remember having trouble staying awake, not getting what the pastor preached on, and watching the clock move oh so slowly. What I learned was it was the wrong church.
I remember the first time I felt and witnessed a move of the Holy Ghost in a service. It was at a Christian men’s event in Indianapolis. There were about 40,000 men there and when all those male voices were lifted up in worship to God, I knew this was something I had never experienced. When the preacher got up to read the scripture the place was on a razor’s edge, he could barely get through it for men worshiping, praying, and calling out to God. He did deliver a message and it was no different. I still remember the message, although it was 25 years ago at least. He preached using the scripture from Joshua 24:15. I was forever changed, even now in our house in a prominent place, this scripture hangs on our wall. It would be years before I would feel that again.
My break came when friends from work began to invite me to “that church” . Being raised in the First Church of the unsaved, I had learned to think of these folks as ignorant, undignified, and just crazy: we had names for them, we marveled at their women and wondered why anyone would want to live like that. Finally, I recognized that what we were doing, and what my parents and grandparents had done did not work, we lost too many….there must be more to Christianity…boy is there! I can still remember those years ago sitting on the front pew after an altar service with my head in my hands thinking, “How did we miss this?”
Unlike I was at their age, my children love church, love preaching, love singing, love worshiping. I am married to a lovely woman of God, my first and only wife, who you will find on her knees crying out to God quite often. She is the most beautiful thing you can imagine because the Spirit of God radiates from her. I will go to revival until my flesh nearly gives out, I love it so much. What a change in our family tree! My oldest is married to a wonderful young man that loves and serves the Lord above all else. She is in a powerhouse of a church and doing well. How much more blessed can you be than attending the right church.
If you are reading this and you are not excited about what God is doing in the worship services in your church, I urge you to find “that church” in your community. Likely it will have no fancy building….it might even be in a storefront. The sign might say things like..missionary or holiness or full gospel or separate… I am here to advocate for you getting somewhere that you can grow in God. You will be glad you did and you will enjoy going to church. If you are going to fulfill God’s ultimate plan for your life, you must get under the spout where the blessings come out.
Warning…there are no perfect people, and there is no perfect church. The best we can do is see that we are in a flock that is led by a shepherd that teaches and preaches the word of God… you check him out..yes him….make sure he is right..read and study it for yourself. …and pray …
Good testimony. I like “the First Church of the Unsaved.” I went there for 21 years. I will use that sometime. :>)
I have so many friends & family members who profess to be Christians but do not see the importance in this truth…I have shared this devotion with many of them today & I pray that as this seed is planted God will give the increase. Thank you for this, God bless you.
Great, Vicky! That is why I make all these studies available for free. We have got to get the truth out to the world. If we don’t who will?
I also produce a free handout that you can print on your printer and give out as many as you want. I have been producing the Bible View for 25+ years so there are many to chose from. Most of them feature one theme. There are some on sin, Bible Versions, works, church, baptism, you name it. It may help reach more people in your ministry. They are available at: http://openthoumineeyes.com/newsletters.html.
I have learned more here than i ever have in a church as for prayer Jesus says pray in secret .