Poverty. Injustice. Disease. Corruption. Chaos. Throughout history, and even today, great people with big hearts join resources to fight against such things.
Truth is that we’re not fighting the evil in the world. We’re fighting the Evil one. The list above is nothing else but mere consequences of the sin that entered the world through the Evil one. And we are foolish to think, that as believers, we don’t need each other’s support. We cannot do it alone. We are Better Together.
Each year our church focuses on a specific direction and theme. This year the emphasis is on Better Together, because it’s so vital to encourage believers to stick together knowing that the world’s not heading in a good place. We were never intended to be ‘a lone reed’.
Why Do We Need To Have A Church Community?
For our benefit.
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25
Right before Easter, our family was coming back from Moldova. As I was driving, the cars on the in-coming lane were flashing their headlights warning me there were police ahead. (It’s a normal non-verbal communication here.)
I found it slightly amusing to see all the ‘racing’ cars around me suddenly go in slow motion like the sloth of Zootopia. Everyone started driving with an awareness of a higher presence around.
Although this ‘act of kindness to warn others’ is more than just frowned upon by the Romanian police, in the spiritual realm, God desires that we keep each other accountable. God invites us to have others ‘flash their headlights’ at us, reminding us, warning us, rebuking us, speaking truth into our lives, encouraging us to do the right thing, to live with that awareness of the Higher Authority, the soon-coming accountability. We are Better Together.
This community needs to be more than just a virtual one. It’s all done as we meet, as we rub shoulders regularly.
Watching on-line inspiring sermons is praiseworthy, yet not enough.
Singing along with video clips is beautiful, yet not enough.
Attending charitable events is commendable, yet not enough.
Posting verses on social media is admirable, yet not enough.
We need a community. We need a family. We need each other. We are Better Together.
For the benefit of others.
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Colossians 3:16
When you go to church, you shouldn’t step into the front door with the attitude of what you can get out of it. Instead may our hearts say: How can I serve? and How can I give of what I’ve been blessed with?
It doesn’t take much to realize how self-focused we are. ‘The songs are not my style’, ‘it’s too formal’, ‘it’s too loud’, ‘it’s too early’, ‘it’s too hot’, ‘it’s too small’, ‘it’s too… ‘ Yep. It’s too much about me.
Church is the perfect place to practice love, forgiveness, acceptance, creativity, teamwork, and unity among diversity.
(***When you see a genuine need (not a mere preference), don’t complain about it: prayerfully come up with a solution, lovingly share it, then eagerly volunteer for it.)
Because Christ said so.
“Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:11-12
We need to be obedient and trust God’s Word. If God finds it important to give us teachers, and shepherds to lead a community, we should see it just as significant too. We need to learn from the Early Church. They met with eagerness to sing, to pray, to study, to serve, to sharpen one another… all done in togetherness.
The Early Church was not perfect. But that was not an excuse to stop, or quit it all together.
Plausible Excuses
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17
Maybe some avoid church because of a bad experience in a church setting, or because they were wronged by a Christian.
Maybe others simply have a misunderstanding about the importance of attending, and being involved in a church.
Maybe others are postponing it for better timing, always updating the excuse at hand like the software on our phone.
Maybe others simply don’t have the courage, although a strong desire beckons them to make a commitment, there’s no one to give them that slight necessary nudge.
Disappointment, busyness, fatigue, misunderstanding, depression, lack of courage, whatever is the reason behind your lack of consistency in a church, make a change today. And soon you’ll reap the benefits of it, and you’ll taste the blessings that come along with a family of faith.
What’s A Healthy Church Like?
A compassionate community serving and making a difference in the world.
A 24/7 hospital for wounded to be counselled, and restored.
A never-ending school that teaches, challenges, and helps others grow based on Scripture.
A safe place to be accepted, to be loved, to be forgiven, to be made new.
A strong team fighting together the Evil one, because “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
A Gospel-oriented body that mirror Christ-likeness to a dark world.
A family to keep you accountable, to do life with, and occasionally to annoy you. 🙂
Read and Meditate:Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”