Has Church Become Optional?

Has Church Become Optional?

In this day in which we live, this is a valid question that must be asked.  The answer is obviously NO, but all of the evidence indicates otherwise.  When we look at the lives of those who call themselves Christians, by and large they feel like church is optional.  In fact, many people claim that they have said “Yes” to Jesus, but “NO” to the church.  First, let me say that it is impossible to say yes to Jesus and no to His church, for Jesus is the Head of the Church, and we are members of His body. 

I would like to present a few rationalizations that people have offered for their neglect of worshiping in the House of the Lord.

1.      There are hypocrites in that church—well, there are hypocrites on your job as well but you still go to work.  There were hypocrites in your college classes as well, but you kept going in order to get that degree.  There have been hypocrites since Jesus' day, in fact, He called them such, but they are not a reason for us to forsake the House of God.

2.      I have a ministry outside the church—this is a tactic that the devil has used to dupe good people into believing that they don’t need the church, or that they shouldn't be a part of the church because they operate a ministry to others outside of the church.  It could be jail and prison ministry, feeding and clothing the homeless, nursing home ministry, ministry to unwed mothers, and the list could go on and on.  However, I can’t find a single instance in the Bible where a ministry operated outside of the parameters and oversight of the church.  The church endorsed and set forth ministers and ministries; it was not as it is today where people say—“me and Jesus have got our own thing going, and we don’t need the church”.  If this is your philosophy concerning ministry, and you are completely outside the auspices of a Bible believing church; when and where are you being ministered to?  Who is mentoring you?  Who or what is your ministry accountable to?  These are valid questions that should be considered.

3.      Sunday is my only day off—typically church only last about an hour and a half; I don’t think that is too much to ask of anyone who calls themselves a Christian.  What if you gave your spouse that kind of excuse as to why you never showed up at home?  She would rightfully think that you didn’t love her as you once did, because there was a time when you made every effort to be there with her.  Likewise, in the church there are many that at one time felt strongly about being in the House of the Lord, and making sure their family was there also.  But something happened and church for them has somehow become optional.

4.      My children don’t want to go to church—I bet you that they don’t want to go to school either, but you make them go because you know that it’s in their best interest to be in school.  So don’t use children as an excuse, be the parent that you are called to be and say: this Sunday we are going to church as a family.  If you have to work on Sunday, then tell them we are going on Wednesday night.

5.      I don’t agree with what’s going on in that church—well we must ask, are you a member of that church or not?  If not, perhaps you should continue looking for a church that you do agree with.  You need to ask if this is something unbiblical or just something I personally don’t like—there is a big difference.  If you are a member, you have a right to express your opinion, but once you have done so, you should support your church regardless of your personal preference for the program, as long as it’s not something that is unethical or unscriptural.  Please understand that you are NEVER going to be happy with everything the church does regardless what church you attend. 

The bottom line is this, you can offer any excuse you want to offer, but there is NO excuse that will ever stand up under the scrutiny of God’s Word for not attending the House of Worship and fellowshipping on a regular basis with the saints of God.  This is where you gain your strength, by being around other Christians… “Iron sharpens Iron”.  You need to be in the atmosphere of worship in the House of Worship with the other members of the body.  You need to hear their testimony.  You need to hear the preached Word of God.  You need to be in the presence of anointed singing, teaching, and preaching.  To do otherwise is to abandon the biblical pattern that has been set before us and handed down for generations.

CHURCH IS NOT OPTIONAL!

Hebrews 10:25 (NLT) ²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Michael D. Sanes, 

Pastor, The Harbor Worship Center