In the past, I have done soul searching and evaluated this very question. Of the various reasons that people do church, here are a few that have stood out to me. Ask some kids why they go to church, and you may get the response that their parents made them. On one occasion when I asked someone, the response was simply, “because it is the right thing to do.”
Others go to church (especially on Christmas and Easter) because that is the traditional thing to do. These reasons seem superficial. Let me be clear before I proceed, I am not here to weigh online versus in-person church. That is a choice based on individual health and safety. This is simply about why we gather as Christians.
In Acts, the first followers of Jesus “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). First, this verse identifies their desire to understand Jesus’ word and works. Hearing the Word is always important, even more so after salvation to grow in the understanding of it. Second, they fellowshipped. This is the concept of being around like-minded individuals for the sake of encouraging and building up one another. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together.” We meet to fellowship, to think about one another, to allow love and works to pour over into others. Do you see the chain reaction there? Furthermore, they broke bread together. This is not just eating together, though Baptists do this well. This is the communion that Jesus established in remembrance of Him. Finally, they prayed together. Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them” (Matt 18:20). Yes, prayer can be done alone, but praying together invites Jesus into the assembly. Not only that but when we pray together, we learn of the needs of others and the things on their hearts.
This list is not all inclusive. Throughout the Bible there are many references to gathering in the name of Christ. The important thing is to not just do church but to be the church together with other believers. Remember that the church is not the building but the believers. It is refreshing and encouraging to be in the presence of like-minded believers within the unity of the body of Christ. If you have gotten out of the habit, remember that it is not just supposed to be a habit but something that you do for the right reasons. Think about these reasons as Sunday approaches and I look forward to gathering with you in the days to come.
Carl MacCarthy