I’m one of many Bible teachers who believe we live in the days before the Lord’s return. As we see the day approaching, I want to warn you about the danger of forsaking Christian fellowship, as some are doing. Belonging to a local church has been essential to the Christian life since Pentecost. The writer of Hebrews warned 1st-century believers not to neglect to gather together but to encourage one another in love and good deeds.
Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25-26
Before we continue looking at the absolute necessity of church the local church, I want to briefly mention what a church is not. A church is not meeting with your Christian golf buddies at Starbucks or having ladies’ fellowship at Barnes and Noble. A church isn’t deciding to stay home like a hermit month after month to be entertained by TV. Money preachers. You are in spiritual danger when apathy, laziness, or neglect keeps you away from Christian fellowship.
Moreover, the Lord has equipped you with certain gifts to use for his glory and to build up other believers as an integral part of the body of Christ.
Whole volumes could be devoted to the absolute necessity of church attendance. For the sake of brevity, we will focus on one key element of being part of a local body of believers: discipleship. Discipleship is paramount when it comes to reasons for assembling with other believers. It is so critical in a believer’s life that it is one of the last things Jesus mentions to his followers.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Dear Christian friend, as you evangelize, please remember that it is of the utmost importance to get new believers into a solid Bible-teaching church where Jesus is central. Often, new converts will not find a solid church home. Lacking discernment, they may wander into a pseudo-Christian church that teaches a different gospel, and that’s often a spiritual shipwreck in the making.
Moreover, we live in a day that’s marked by increased spiritual deception. It’s often proliferated by so-called ministers whose only concern is their following, fame, and fortune. The person being deceived might be a baby Christian, or worse, someone who hasn’t come to faith yet. They are often swayed by a preacher who seems to have the inside track to God. It’s a sad scenario we see played out only continually.
We primarily keep ourselves and others from falling into these sorts of dangers by continuing together in Christian fellowship under godly shepherds in the local church.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate teachers for themselves to suit their passions. They will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
Another danger in neglecting church is the sin of pride. Here’s the thing: We can get so puffed up in our spiritual assessment of ourselves that we think we have a correct grasp of everything theologically. Our opinion regarding which version of the Bible to use in church is correct because it’s the one we read. Our version of the end-time scenario is correct, including whether the rapture is pre, mid, or post-tribulation because what we believe has to be right. Finally, our preference for the pastor to wear a tie must be strictly adhered to because it’s how we think he should dress.
I hope you see the humor in this because those examples highlight what happens when we get our eyes off Jesus and personal preferences. Preferences can become prideful pitfalls that will have us moving from church to church, looking for the perfect fellowship, which doesn’t exist on this side of eternity. We certainly stand up and take issue if false doctrine is being taught in your local church. That’s a far cry from neglecting church because your pride demands strict adherence to your choice of the color of carpet in the fellowship hall.
Here is the beautiful reality of the local church; a new Christian is awash in solid Bible teaching, discipled by mature believers, covered with prayer, and accountable to others. Godly shepherds are charged with your care. There are large, small, and home-based churches that demonstrate what a Jesus-centered fellowship of believers looks like.
I’ve had brief seasons in my life where I was disobedient and didn’t make Christian fellowship a priority. I can tell you from experience that a gradual drift from the Lord occurs. The opposite is true when I’m actively plugged into a solid local church. I have an increased desire for personal holiness and Christlikeness because I’m under solid Bible teaching and encouraged by other believers to live for the glory of God.
The pattern set for us by the apostles and early church is clear: We cannot neglect to assemble together, as some have made a habit of doing.
We need Christian fellowship, discipleship, and our local church to encourage us to finish well as the Day approaches. You must find a local body of believers where Jesus is central and solid Bible teaching is paramount because the danger of neglecting church is too great.
All for Him,
Howard
Concerning The Times and our ministry friends, our resources page is an excellent place to access solid Bible teaching, but we are not to be a substitute for your local church fellowship.
