I was once asked this question by a loved one, "If I believe in God and Jesus and all that, why do I need to be in church? Does God really care if I sit in church once a week?". I realized at once the land mine zone I was just tossed into.
On the one hand, if I had told this person that he needed to be in church, there is a good chance he would lose his new found faith. On the other hand, church is an important part of worship for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, we had enough time and a strong enough relationship to have a lengthy discussion about the pros and cons to going to church. Today, I'm going to summarize some of these for you, in case you are ever faced with a similar question.
Con: Church is full of hypocrites who only sit and judge you
This is true. We are all hypocrites, every one of us. If we weren't, we would not have required a Savior to come and rescue us from ourselves. The truth is that we all care what others think about us, so many times we say one thing, but act differently. Church is no exception.
In addition to being hypocrites, we are all judgmental and harsh with one another. Don't believe me? Think about the last time you were in a large group of people-did anyone annoy you, frustrate you or confuse you with their actions? Guess what, you just judged them-we all do it. It's true that scripture tells us to look inward before judging others (Matthew 7:3), and we should; but the truth is that we are sinful creatures and we all have periods being judgmental.
Going to church doesn't say that you are not a hypocrite or judgmental. What it says about you is that you recognize that you are a hypocrite and judgmental and you know you cannot correct these sins alone, that you need help. You recognize that you are not perfect and require teaching, support and encouragement to get better. You acknowledge that you need the forgiveness that only Christ can give.
Pro: Worshipping is a group activity
Matthew 18:20 says "Where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them". This is the epitome of why attending church is so important. Recognizing and acknowledging our sins can be very humbling. When we sit and think about how far from perfect we are, it can motivate us to do better, or it can make us feel hopeless. We sometimes feel like nobody can understand what we are going through or how we are feeling.
Attending church gives us a support system. There is something very communal about sitting with other like minded individuals, praising God and offering worship. When we attend church regularly, we become part of a community-I recognize many people who attend my regular service, even if I have never spoken to them. When I see them in my town, I recognize them as part of my church community. We also make friends at church-people we know love us and hold the same values we have. That is a built in accountability partner!
Con: Services take so long
Ok, really? Church services average about an hour a week. That's it! If you cannot make one hour a week in your schedule, then you need to review your schedule-you are much to busy.
Pro: Services take only an hour
See what I did there? Being in church and receiving the benefits of attending regular services only takes one hour of your entire week. That is less time than it takes to read the morning paper, workout or watch two tv sitcoms. Most of us come home and sit on our bottoms to watch three hours of football. The time it takes to sit through service is worth the effort, given all that we get from it.
Con: The church only wants my money
This one can be a little sticky to address, especially with a nonbeliever. Part of the statement may come from a persons own conviction about how important their finances are to them, or concern that they don't have enough to give to church. On the other hand, some churches speak so much about giving that it can seem like that's all the church is interested in.
The truth is, running a church does take funds, a lot of funds. Not only is there the costs of maintaining a building, the utilities, property management and salaries, but there is also the cost of the programs that so many people have come to associate with the church. Outreach ministries, prison ministries, Bible studies, youth gouts, mission trips, assistance with food, money and clothes for the needy, support to families in crisis and so on. It all takes a huge effort from volunteers and money.
Pro: The church is there for support when we need them
As mentioned above-the church is there to offer support (tangible and intangible) when there is need. Most churches have outreach programs, that reach out the needy. These programs do important work in reaching the homeless, the needy and those who have been victims of natural disasters. Churches also offer support like meals brought to a members home after a funeral or medical crisis, they often provide short term financial support to members for bills, tuition or food.
Churches of nearly every faith, look to take care of the people in their communities. It is reassuring and comforting to have your church community surround you when you need it.
Closing thoughts:
It is clear that being a member of a church community and regularly participating in services, Bible studies and ministries offer benefits that are necessary in this life. That being said, not everyone is ready to hear that. Many new believers, or believers who have been hurt by their faith want to believe that they can worship God anywhere.
Worshipping in a church building may not be a criteria that God uses to judge us, but it is essential for us to continue to grow and develop our relationship with him. Attending church is for our benefit, not Gods. We are not gracing God with our appearance in a building once a week; He is gracing us with the ability to come together and worship at his feet weekly, daily or as often as we choose to gather.
Discussing this topic can be sensitive because people will feel judged if they are not regularly attending service, but it also necessary. Church services are a time for all of us to reconnect to Gods word, and disconnect from the secular world, if only for an hour. Every believer deserves the benefits of regular church attendance, and we do our brothers and sisters a disservice if we don't discuss the issue honestly.
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