The Children of GOD Go to Church – Conclusion

One who claims to be a Christian but consistently and deliberately disregard the authority of GOD’s WORD that the Family of GOD not neglect meeting together so as to encourage one another (Hebrews 10:25), must pause and examine the sincerity of that claim.

There are no “Lone Ranger” Christians

A Christian is one who has accepted JESUS CHRIST for salvation – this means we heard the gospel, confessed our sins, and placed our faith and trust in JESUS CHRIST. At the moment we do this we are born into GOD’s Kingdom as His children.  

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 1 John 3:1

While JESUS CHRIST is referred to as the only begotten SON of GOD, believers are referred to as children born into GOD’s family. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

In addition to becoming the Family of GOD through salvation, we also become members of the body of CHRIST – All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27.

To adequately function as both the Family of GOD and the body of CHRIST, we must grow and mature in our faith. We do this best when we are in relationship with other children of GOD, by becoming part of a local church.

Church life as the Body of CHRIST – the Church Universal

The body of CHRIST can only function properly if all of its “parts” are working together (1 Corinthians 12:14-20).

Our church attendance then must include “work” – active involvement in a ministry, one where we are using the spiritual gifts for which GOD has especially designed each of us (Ephesians 4:11–13.) Using our spiritual gifts is how the Family of GOD contributes to the health of the body of CHRIST and become more like CHRIST. It is also how we, individually, grow and mature spiritually:

• Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Ephesians 4:14
• Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:15
• As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16

It is clear then that regular church attendance and active ministry involvement are key to fully experiencing the Christian life, to enjoying the abundant life that the Father designed for His children. Without the assistance and encouragement of other believers the Christian life will be a pale imitation of what GOD designed it to be – like chalk is to cheese. No comparison!

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 1 Corinthians 12:7 

Gifts to the body of CHRIST – 1 Corinthians 12

As the Body of CHRIST, we are the physical representation of Christ in this world. Since His ascension back to the Father, CHRIST's work in the world continues through those He has redeemed. The role of the Church is to demonstrate the love of GOD to the world in concrete ways.  

To this end, the Holy Spirit has imparted to us a diversity of gifts suited to particular functions (It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 1 Corinthians 12:11.)

These spiritual gifts as seen in Scripture allow us to function as: apostles, prophets, teachers, those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages (or tongues.)

Most of us have a very good idea of what we are innately good at – and whatever that skill is it will translate into one of these functions. If we are uncertain of where we function best, we ask the LORD to lead us in how to best participate in our local congregation and bless others with our gift. He will reveal His specific purpose for us. We also seek the counsel of other believers and ask them to pray with and for us.

We can only feel completely fulfilled and grow spiritually when we function in our specific gift, and that gift, through us, will be the most useful to the Body of CHRIST.

“So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts.” 1 Corinthians 12:31

We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:5

Weekly church attendance will not get us into heaven, neither will non-attendance keep us out of heaven. 

However, unless we are physically incapable because of disability, illness, geography – working or living in an isolated area where no church exists, etc., if we profess salvation, that we love GOD and His SON, we ought to be practical in our profession by being an active part of the Body and GOD’s Family. We find a church home and attend regularly.

If we are staying away from the church because of recent or past hurt feelings, we are doing ourselves and the Family a disservice. We are missing out on giving and receiving valuable spiritual nourishment – taking advantage of teaching/learning the WORD and its application to our lives, for instance.

Our brothers and sisters in the Family are saved but none of us are perfect. We make mistakes, we hurt people and people hurt us. The church is the place where we Christians take our emotional and spiritual maladies so we can be healed or be an instrument of healing. 

We are not of this world, and the world’s way of handling issues do not apply to, or work for us but leave us feeling dissatisfied and frustrated, and do not bring us any peace.

The children of GOD forgive one another!

We pray for each other so that we all can be whole.

We come together regularly to support, encourage and care for each other, like our Father has taught us to do!

“God has put the body together. . . .If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-26.

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Our LORD and our GOD, in YOUR great wisdom YOU choose to bring people together, not because of who we are but because YOU are Sovereign. YOUR authority, Father, is absolute. None can question what you are doing or why. YOU choose whomever YOU wish to save and place in YOUR Family with YOUR SON as our HEAD, the firstborn among the many. Fill us, Father, with wisdom and power and a desire to truly understand, as YOUR people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep is the love YOU have for us to bestow such a favor on us. May we always strive also to better comprehend CHRIST’s love and His sacrifice on our behalf. Father it is so much more than our minds have the ability to take in fully, but may or love for YOU motivate us to keep trying and drive us towards fully accepting our role in the Family and the Body. Thank YOU for reminding us that we are the redeemed, that we represent CHRIST’s love to the lost and dying world, that we must never cease to care for and support each other, no matter the cost. Now all glory to GOD, who is able, through HIS mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to HIM in the church and in CHRIST JESUS through all generations forever and ever.

We ask all things in JESUS’ Holy NAME. Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile