Do I Need to Go to Church?
Hebrews 10:24-25: And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
New American Standard Bible, 1995, Hebrews 10:24-25
The point and purpose of the call and command to gather has been greatly lost in our generation.
We frequently condition our attendance at a gathering (or church service) upon two things:
Contribution to me
Convenience for me
When we are consumed with the gathering’s “contribution to me,” we’ll find ourselves asking and assessing the gathering’s value by these types of questions:
“What do I get?”
“What do I gain?”
“What’s in it for me?”
Essentially, our commitment to attending will vary based on the value of what we get out of it. We will go when – and only when – what we get exceeds what we give.
A “contribution to me” mentality turns us away from a serving orientation and from a one another mindset.
Instead of asking, “How can I serve others?” we will ask, “How are others serving me?” And instead of asking, “How can I encourage others?” we will ask “How are others encouraging me?”
Not surprisingly, a concern for “contribution to me” leaves us with, well, a me mentality.
Likewise, a concern for the “convenience for me” leads to a similar place.
When we are concerned about the “convenience for me,” we will find ourselves making our decisions in line with two factors:
- “What minimizes my cost?”
- “What maximizes my comfort?”
Have you ever heard someone, or been the one who is, asking questions like these?
- “Do I like the service times?”
- “Do I like the service lengths?”
- “Does it fit within – and not take away from – my life?”
Simply put, “convenience for me” is all about ease.
Of course, we can be impacted and driven by both “contribution to me” and “convenience for me.” When we are, our commitment is no longer based on value or ease, but is based on our preference – our preference for just about anything, from worship style, to worship songs, to what leaders wear, and on the list goes.
Preference asks the following about the gathering:
- “Is it done the way I want?”
- “Is it done when I want?”
- “Is it done to my liking?”
When we are driven by preference, we, as congregants, abandon our call to carry a cross and become consumers.
But, is this what God has in mind? Is this God’s design? What about obedience?
Disciples who are driven by obedience approach the gathering in an entirely different way. They say: “It’s what God said. Not only did He say not to forsake the gathering, but He said to show up, to encourage one another, to serve one another, to allow His grace to flow through me and to them, and much, much more.”
Of course, we can’t fulfill the “one anothers” of Scripture by merely watching a service by ourselves in our own home.
That’s not to say there is never a time and place for online church (i.e. when we cannot physically join the gathering); but we should not take the liberty to define something in a way that God does not, and God does not define the gathering as an isolated viewing event.
When our commitment to the gathering is driven by obedience, we are still going to be concerned about contribution – but it won’t be others’ contribution to us that we are most concerned about, but our contribution to Him and to them.
And when our commitment to the gathering is driven by obedience, our concern for convenience will be consumed by our care for and commitment to Him and His bride.
“Do I need to go to church?”
Value’s answer may well be no.
Ease’s answer may well be no.
Preference’s answer may well be no.
But obedience’s answer is yes.
© 2022 Shane Farmer, Rebekah Layton. All rights reserved.
