Why We Do It

Yesterday I promised “More” on this subject. It was brought to mind when I saw the words in this graphic posted in a timeline. It is true – and yet so incomplete that it is wrong.

We’ve all known people who have not set foot in a church but say they are Christians. Some have even exhibited in their lives the principles Jesus taught:

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35 KJV)

The jailor did not have to go to church to be saved:

And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. (Acts 16:30-33 KJV)

All of that is true – but we’re back to the examples our Lord Jesus Christ spoke, and the inspired word of God given to His disciples. Living those examples should be what applies the title Christian in our lives. How can we know that, as Paul wrote, without hearing:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:13-15 KJV)

Paul knew that “as it is written” in Isaiah 52:7 because he studied God’s word. How would we know it without study – Romans 10:13 doesn’t give the Isaiah 52:7 reference. Come, study with us in a Bible-teaching church.

As an “aside,” here’s one reason that church would do better with a King James Bible, too, with the “thee” and “thou”, singular and plural as one site explains (and they don’t quote from KJV):

This can also be seen in the fact that most of the instructions for Christians are done in the plural, there are very few (if any) instructions to individuals. (The Greek of the NT distinguishes between singular and plural ‘you’ English doesn’t do that anymore).

Trusting Jesus Christ as our savior makes us part of a very large entity:

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 KJV)

That takes studying in context, doesn’t it? Only three verses will not give  the background. What/who were Corinthians? Why were there a first and second? Who wrote this? What does it mean? How many people will take time to study and pray about this – and the remainder of the Bible on their own. That’s one of the reasons we assemble ourselves together, as suggested:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)

For me, though, the greater reason for church attendance is worshiping and praising God:

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. (Psalms 107:31-32 KJV)

Please consider building the relationship with our Lord while praising him in a nearby congregation.