I find it very irksome when people carry the notion that if you're a Christian, if you have accepted Jesus Christ, and you have a personal relationship with Him, then going to church is not an absolute necessity. Common responses are, "Why do I need to go to church when I can do the same exact thing and worship God at home?" "I believe in God, I just don't believe in the church. They're just full of corrupt hypocrites." To some extent, this is true. There are churches full of people who say one thing and do another. There are also people who lie, cheat, steal, and perhaps even murder who go to church. It is a place for sinners. A refuge, a sanctuary, a haven for the lost. Church is supposed to be a place where sinners come together and acknowledge the abounding grace that which God gave us and then encourage each other and praise our Father in unity.
Speaking of unity, the Bible tells us a countless number of times of the necessity and importance of going to church:
Hebrews 10:25
"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
1 Corinthians 12:12
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. "
1 Corinthians 12:27
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
The church is there for us to encourage one another, grow in faith, serve one another, learn to love one another, and learn about forgiveness. If we stay home on Sundays and Fridays and whatever days are set aside for fellowship and worship, we are not fulfilling the commands of the Lord (observing the Sabbath and fellowship). By not attending church, we are putting ourselves at risk of temptation because of the lack of accountability, the unity of the body of Christ, one's own spiritual growth, and the blessings that flow from fellowship. Although we are all individuals each given our own distinct talents and gifts, He gave those to us so that we may use it for His glory upon His people.
My last and final most important evidence of the importance of attending church:
Luke 4:16
"He [Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom."
Even Jesus went to church regularly. If we call ourselves true Christians and desire to imitate Christ, why should we ignore this fact?
As important as it is to have a deep and personal one-on-one relationship with God, through those private and intimate times with Him, we must use what we learn and share our blessings and struggles among other believers. That is the only way to grow to the fullest.
