Maybe you have found yourself saying this. Maybe you have heard these words when talking with someone else. It is interesting that this statement is both true and false depending on the context. It is also interesting that the Bible speaks to both the truth and error of this statement.
I find myself thinking about why some individuals respond this way. Could it be they have had a bad experience with Christianity? Could it be that they are set in their beliefs and not really interested in considering other options? Or could it be they are attempting to justify their spirituality? I would be curious to know your driving motivation if you have ever said this.
Let’s look at the context where this statement would be true Biblically. It would be true if one believes their church attendance will “earn” spiritual points in their “relationship” with God. Many today, view the path to a relationship with God based on doing the right things and doing enough of them. But the Bible reminds us that the only way to have a relationship with God is by accepting God’s free gift of salvation. The truth is, a relationship with God is not earned by our human effort but by accepting the free gift. I love Jesus’ simplicity in stating this truth, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.” (John 6:47). The practices of faith do become necessary after a person knows Christ as a response to the Lord’s work in our lives, but not to earn it!
This week in my personal Bible reading I was struck by the statement about the practices of Jesus during His earthly ministry. The physician Luke reminds us in one account; “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.” (Luke 4:16). What caught my attention was that it was Jesus’ custom to attend the weekly meeting of God’s people. The word “custom” can be defined as an accepted or habitual practice of long standing. Jesus was a faithful, regular synagogue attender (an equivalent of our church services today). For those of us as parents and grandparents, we are also reminded that Jesus saw this custom modeled by his parents. “Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.” (Luke 2:41–42). The word translated “custom” is different but it means that same thing, “a usual or customary manner of behavior, a habit.” It is worth noting that this word for custom is also used to describe Jesus’ habit of getting away to pray. It is also used when addressing followers of Jesus who are not attending congregational times together. “not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:25).
There is more that could be said here on the importance of plugging into a local congregation. Our verse above reminds us of one, encouragement! It is true you do not need to go to church to be a “Christian.” But a follower of Jesus will plug into a local congregation because it is part of living out faith in Christ with other followers!
-Pastor Joe Parkinson