This week’s devotions are based on Week 2 of Rooted – Grounded in Grace (CLICK HERE)
How would you respond to this statement?
“I don’t have to go to church to go to heaven. My faith is between me and God.”
At face value, both statements are true. There is no mandate from God that says a qualification of heaven is church membership. It is reality that one’s faith is very personal and their connection point to God.
However, my experience has been when these two phrases come up that it is really a deflection from wanting to be part of a church. The combination of these statements can easily come across as, “I really don’t want to belong to a church and I can do faith on my own.” In an age of digital media and the ability to customize all your experiences to your personal preference, it is easy to stay away from church, let alone commit to a church and be an active member in that church. Current trends would indicate that more and more people are acting on the belief that “my faith is between me and God and I don’t need to belong to a church.”
With this mindset, we can understand the vicious cycle of beliefs that is lessoning the need and the value for church.
However, we must challenge this premise and ask, “Is this true?”
The BIble is clear that God’s church, even its local manifestation, is made up of people. From the first iteration of the first century church in Acts 2 after Pentecost, people got together.
Acts 2:44-47 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
Later the writer to the Hebrews encouraged getting together when the tendency was to stay home alone:
Acts 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
So do we need to belong to a church to be in heaven? Technically no. However, if the Bible encourages and promotes getting together and having interaction and relationships with other Christians, should we ask, “Why?” Absolutely!
The truth is that God never invites us to do something that is going to be for our spiritual harm. Rather, he is constantly encouraging and promoting those activities and behaviors that will bring us the greatest blessing.
So, relationships with other Christians MUST be a good thing. If God has determined it is a good thing, it is natural to ask, “What are the reasons God wants me to be part of a Christian church and in relationship with other Christians?”
This week we will unpack the blessings that come from working at and being in relationship with other Christians. It may not be the reasons you think, but I will tip my hand and say there are other reasons than the ones we will cover this week.
Apply: Even if you aren’t currently attending a church, what reasons come to mind that would indicate having Christian relationships is a positive thing?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for creating your church as a gathering point to hear your Word and foster Christian relationships. Lead me to treasure the gift of relationships just like I treasure all the other blessings you give. AMEN.