Church Participation

This past Sunday we considered I Peter 4:1-11 where verse 7 declares: the end of all things is at hand.  And this after teaching believers that they are to live differently and likely suffer for doing so – even facing martyrdom.  So what is a believer to do facing death and the end of all things?  Be engaged in church – 4:7-11.

Why Church?  Is church that important or as important as some people think it should be or preach it should be?  Church can have good moments and value in certain situations, but to make it a high priority in light of all that needs to be done is asking too much.  Or is it?  Is occasional attendance sufficient?  Is Sunday attendance most of the time acceptable?  Is church life – more than just Sunday morning – important?  Can’t church become too demanding and too much?

My short answer is that church is critical to one’s well-being and the success of rearing children who will embrace Jesus as Lord and rear their children to do the same.  While church can have too many expectations or activities, generally that is not the problem.   The problem is that too many think church is a take it or leave it.  Too many think that church is somewhere down the priority list after marriage, family, some sports, relaxation, and travels.  Many don’t have time for church life (more than Sunday only) and are stretched just to make Sunday morning regular.

I believe that church life is critical to life.  Why?  Because it is the expectation of the New Testament!  I read the Bible and find a strong, a very strong, calling on Christians to be active with other Christians even on a daily basis.  Read Romans 12 or Ephesians 4:11-16 or I Peter 5:1-5 or Hebrews 10:24-25 and ask yourself if random attendance or Sunday morning only attendance fits what is taught?

Read I Corinthians 12 or I Peter 4:10 and grasp the truth that if saved, you have been given a gift that is to be used in the body.  To not use that gift is both a rejection of the Spirit’s will and the Spirit’s work.  In a human body, when an organ or system does not work the whole body suffers and such is true when a saint is a part of a church and not active.  Gifts are important to the church and also important to the one with the gift.  God blesses obedience.

Passage after passage pushes the important role that church has in marriages, in family life, in the rearing of children, and in coping with neighbors, bosses, and leaders.  Church people and activities are critical to having the right people engaged in your life when life turns south – and it will!

Church engagement exposes you to praying saints and the prayers of those righteous avail much.  And who does not need prayer?

Church life brings a slice of heaven into the grey, bland world of sin, deceit, and darkness.

Lastly, church is the bride of Jesus!  To think that He is not keenly aware of and engaged in each local expression of His bride is to not understand that He died for His bride.  And He is surely joyed to see you active in His passion – His bride.

I believe that hearty church participation is both pleasing to God and necessary for His people in order to thrive in days of rejection by the world and in preparation for eternity with Jesus.