Reason #1: Jesus loved the church. I sure am not Jesus, neither are you. But being called by him means we must actually be like him. His passion for his bride brought him to death. You and I ought to prize his beloved church above any program, ministry, school, or institution.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless” (Eph 5:25-27).
Reason #2: It began with the Apostles but it didn’t end with them. We long for connections beyond a current network of friends, family, and tradition. We want an ancient connection. One reason family genealogies are so popular is because most people long for roots. Christians have deep roots, our history began in chapter one of Acts and continues on through 28 chapters of Acts and right up to today. There are no new questions, nor are there new answers. We look to an ancient book (the Bible) for answers. And if we are still curious, there is nearly 2,000 years of historical theology to help us learn how the church taught the Scriptures in years past.
Mike Horton says that “The church was born in doctrinal debate. It fought its way to dominance through centuries of arguments over doctrinal detail. The Reformation was a controversy between two different gospels.” Today marks a terrific vantage point for the church. There is no reason for heresy; it has all been worked out in history. For starters, we believe the Bible is a genuine book that came from God. The church has taught this since its inception nearly 2,000 years ago. Who are we to think that the Apostles got it wrong?
Reason #3: The church is full of people who can help. I long to learn more, to be better equipped to serve Christ. I want genuine answers to my questions about God, and I want to mature in Christ with other Christ-followers. And I hope you do as well. If so, there is good news, the church exists to build you up.
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:11-13).
Reason #4: The church is commanded by its God to love everyone. Of all the groups of people in the world your local church ought to be the safest and most caring environment around. God’s people are not only called to weep with those who weep but to love one another unconditionally. God calls the church to love those that no one else will love. And to do so with no strings attached. We love because our Lord is glorified when we do so, and we want to show the world his love.
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Rom 12:10-11).
“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law” (Rom 13:8).
Are you convinced? I hope so. Let’s remember that the church is not a building, a program, or a denomination. We are not scary either. We are God’s people, whom Christ has redeemed and prized as his own. If you don’t love it already, start cultivating a love for the family of God, you can begin with the few reasons I stated above. You can find plenty more in your bible or by discovering a local church on your own. Christianity is not for Lone Ranger types, we all must to belong to the family of God, via a local church.
