Be committed to your local church.
As your spiritual family, it’s not to be measured by the programs it offers, the classes or activities it provides for you or your children, or whether you like the music or not. Doing so reveals that you have an unbiblical understanding of church. It’s not a business, a club, a school, a concert, or some type of smorgasbord where you can pick things from a menu that you enjoy. (You wouldn’t do that to your family— at least I hope not. Or perhaps that attitude is why so many families are failing???)
The local assembly is a group of people who share life together, who worship & serve Jesus together, who learn God’s Word together, who help one another, who comfort one another, who love one another by laying down our lives for one another. We’re supposed to be the BODY of Christ— together cooperating — as the Holy Spirit reveals Christ through us to a world that so desperately needs to see Him.
All this to say, Jesus loves His Church, is building His church— so get involved, be committed, instead of bouncing around or picking what you like from several different local churches — be ALL IN— in one place. Remember, being a Christian involves laying down your life for others.
Church should be a place where your brothers and sister in Christ can show up and expect to see you there— as they may need your love, your empathy, your counsel, your gifts, or your prayers. So be there— for Jesus, for others. A brother may need your support having just received some bad news at work. A sister may come hoping to see you because she was just diagnosed with cancer. A fellow believer may be very lonely and just needs a friend. Will you be there?
As a pastor, if our church has become an item on your menu or an event on your schedule that’s taking you away from your local church— please, instead of coming to our church occasionally, please get fully involved in your local church. And if you’re a church leader and we’re pulling people away from being fully committed to your local assembly, please forgive me. I’m not your competition.
I support the idea of a local church. It’s Jesus’ idea.
