Others like to take cheap shots from the cheap seats, attending church the same way a movie critic attends movies – to criticize. As if demeaning the church would somehow drive people to join one. Some churches market themselves as “a church for people who don’t like church.” Whatever that is. Who would ever try to convince anyone they could embrace the Groom and ignore His Bride? I can only think of one: the devil. The fact is, there is no Biblical precedent, encouragement or support of any kind for any type of Christianity that could somehow exist apart from the local church. This speaks of the intimacy, interaction, dependency, loyalty, mutual care, relationship and love that can only take place in a family. The final metaphor used for the church is a family (Ephesians 2:19 3:15 Galatians 6:10). And 1 Peter 5:2-3 calls the church a flock, pinpointing our common need to be led, fed, cared for and protected by the Great Shepherd. The church is also called an assembly in Hebrews 12:23, focusing on our common calling to be gathered into the eternal presence of God. The church is compared to a body (1 Corinthians 12:12), emphasizing our connection to one another and dependence upon each other for life, with our ultimate dependence on our head, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul called the church a temple (Ephesians 2:20-22), referring to us being part of a building built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus as the chief cornerstone. JESUS referred to the church as a vine (John 15:5), which speaks of our common connection to the life of God, and allows us to bear fruit. 1 Peter 2:5 & 9 refers to the church as a holy priesthood, describing our common service and our uncommon access to Almighty God. In Revelation 5:10, the church is referred to as a kingdom (Revelation 5:10), which speaks of our common submission to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. For example, Peter refers to the church as a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), identifying believers’ common citizenship in the heavenly realm.
None of which support or encourage any kind of Christian life apart from the church. There are a number of metaphors and analogies used in the Bible for the church. Rather, my focus is on the millions of unwilling or uninterested. And all who believed were together and had all things in common” (Acts 2:42-44).Ĭertainly, people who are physically unable to attend a local church would be an exception and thankfully, due to modern technology, even they can still participate in worship, prayer, teaching, giving and even some degree of fellowship online. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. The pattern of the first church in Jerusalem was, “They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
The Hebrew writer encouraged, “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 you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). But you can’t have life apart from the body.” 1 The body may have scars, blemishes, inadequacies, and maybe even paralysis. The Lord hasn’t given you the option to say, ‘I believe in Jesus, but I don’t want anything to do with the church.’ When you attach yourself to the head, that makes you a part of the body. Paul said, ‘The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”’ (1 Cor.
You need the fellowship of other believers to grow and to be held accountable, and other Christians need you. How can you love Christ and yet hate his Body? … To say, ‘I don’t need the church,’ is to completely miss the purpose of the church. “The Bible refers to the Church as the Body of Christ. Most people believe you can … but what if they’re wrong? Why does the devil work so hard to keep people out of church? And why should we care when it comes to that battle? My friend, Bob Russell, in his book When God Builds A Church, sheds some light on the subject: