What’s So Important About Church?
Why do Christians go to Church on Sundays anyways? Is it to check off the box, show that we did the right thing, or is it to please God? Church is a beautiful privilege that we get as Christians get to experience. We gather weekly to sing, rejoice, celebrate, hear testimonies of God’s goodness, and a message from a pastor. Often we get to pray together too, encouraging our brothers and sisters in the Lord. We shouldn’t forget about glorious post-church lunch and even better post church naps. This healthy rhythm of gathering once a week with believers is a joyful and essential part of the Christian life.
Top 5 Reasons for Attending Church Every Sunday:
1. Humans are built for community:
Since the beginning of the story in the garden of Eden, we find that humans are built for community. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as God – three in one – crafted the garden of Eden in community with one another. They created human beings, in their image, for connection with God and even Adam was created for connection with Eve. We were never meant to walk alone! God’s family is called a family for a reason: it’s because we’re supposed to be together. It’s important to attend Church every Sunday to keep our hearts connected to other followers of Jesus, ensuring that we’re not in isolation from the Body of Christ.
Or, as Lilo would say… “Ohana means family, and family means nobody is left behind or forgotten”.
2. Church is good for the soul:
Most define our soul as our mind, will, and emotions. Church is an incredible place for our souls to find healing, restoration, and hope. As we rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep at our Churches, we find that we heal far faster than if we were to do so on our own. Also, contemporary worship services offer wonderful times of uplifting, God centered music that invites us to lift our eyes to the hills, where our help comes from!
Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits. - Psalm 103:1-2 NKJV
3. Church is good for the body:
Believe it or not, there are studies that show that attending Church is actually good for your body. According to the article, “The Benefits of Church” by The New York Times, “Religious attendance — at least, religiosity — boosts the immune system and decreases blood pressure. It may add as much as two to three years to your life.”
How incredible! In another article, “The Surprising Ways Church Affects Your Health” by JP Conway, the author cites the Human Flourishing Project and Christianity Today, discovering that “Religious service attendance is associated with greater longevity, less depression, less suicide, less smoking, less substance abuse, better cancer and cardiovascular disease survival, and less divorce,”
As we see in these studies, the benefits of regular church attendance shows us good news! The Gospel lived out in community is proving that Jesus really is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that His Church helps us live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
4. Church is good for our spirit:
Each and every one of us are made up of three parts: the body, the soul, and the spirit. As we’ve seen how going to church on Sunday is incredible for our soul and our body, we want to show you how it is good for your spirit!
When we go to Church, we hear a message from the Bible. The Bible is the Word of God and it is living and active! Hearing the word of God is incredible for our spirits. It is able to uplift us, encourage us, correct us, and edify us. When we attend church every Sunday as Christians, we are nourished on a spiritual level, not just physically and emotionally. And as we gather at Church, we remember that , “The Lord is our strength and our song; He has become our salvation!” (Exodus 15:2)
5. Church is an honor and a privilege:
As Americans, we tend to take the concept of freely meeting and gathering with other believers of Jesus for granted. Persecution, which is the mistreatment of an individual for their faith, is increasing across the globe for Christians. As we heave freedom of speech and freedom of religion in the United States, we should gather as often as we can – remembering and praying for those who aren’t able to freely meet at this time.
You can see a visual representation of the regions where it’s unsafe to attend Church and profess Christ by viewing the World Watch List from Open Doors.
Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies - Hebrews 13:3 NLT
Bible Verses for Attending Church
Now that we’ve seen how attending church is good for our bodies, souls, and spirits, let’s head to the Bible. We’ve gathered some of our favorite Bible verses to encourage you to attend Church every Sunday:
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 ESV
Gathering in Church is such an incredible way to stir one another up to become more like Jesus through love and good works. Even in the first century, the author of Hebrews was addressing the issue of Christians not meeting together. Even in the face of extreme persecution under Roman rule
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Matthew 18:20 NIV
This Bible verse encourages us in the importance of church. Whether your church is small or large, Jesus has promised to be with us, even if only two or three are gathered!
What to Do When We Don’t Feel Like Going to Church?
The first step is considering why we aren’t wanting to go to Church.
Are we offended with someone at Church? Are we feeling overwhelmed by the high challenge that our Church offers? Is our Church too much of a low challenge environment? Do we have church hurt? When we begin to ask good questions about what we’re experiencing and dive into our history with the Church, we may discover that we have pain, questions, or fear that we need to unpack in regards to the Church.
Spiritual disciplines like reading our Bible, attending Church, developing a practice of prayer and worship, all require discipline to complete.We encourage you, no matter where you are on your journey with your faith: go to Church and make it a priority!
Conclusion
As we see biblically and historically, attending Church every Sunday is essential to a thriving Christian life. Come persecution, offense, or boredom – attending Church every Sunday is a priority for Christians all across the earth.
So, consider making church a regular part of your Sunday routine! It's a fantastic way to connect with amazing people who share your faith in Jesus. It's a place to find comfort, encouragement, and a whole lot of connection with God. Plus, studies show that attending church can even boost your physical health! Most importantly, it's an opportunity to grow closer to God, learn from His Word, and experience His love in a powerful way. So, let's make Sundays a day to look forward to!
