Is the assembly an integral part of our lives…?
Many evangelical Christians view the local church as an option in their lives. It is like a theater: you may choose to go or not. It is not a necessity in your life. You may say, “I can read my Bible at home and pray. I can worship God when camping or hiking. I can hear a preacher on the radio if I wish. I do not need the church in my life.”
But the Bible emphasizes the importance of the local church. Paul said that he wrote to Timothy, “that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15, NKJV).
This is a lofty description of the assembly, emphasizing its importance. It is also called the temple of God in which the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 3:16-18). It is God’s house and He has a right to direct conduct in His house. It is a temple and should be marked by purity, holiness, and worship.
Believers are exhorted to be faithful in attendance at the meetings for teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer (Acts 2:42; Heb. 10:25). All four of these activities were part of the weekly meetings of the early church. These meetings will nurture one’s spiritual growth and maturity.
The assembly is vital for one to develop spiritual gifts and usefulness to God. The Bible inextricably links its teaching on spiritual gifts to teaching about the church.
The local church is also necessary for the safety and health of believers. It is to be led by a plurality of elders: godly, mature men, schooled in God’s Word (1 Tim. 3:1-7). These men will shepherd the believers and keep them from straying from God’s truth.
Our loyalty to the assembly reflects our loyalty to Christ. The Lord taught this lesson to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus and he never forgot it: Christ takes the way we treat the church personally. It is impossible to love God if we do not love our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 Jn. 4:20).
Do our lives center in the work of our local church? Or do other things come first: business, family, pleasure, sports? Do other pursuits have a priority in our lives so that we miss meetings frequently? Is the assembly an integral part of our lives throughout the week—praying for the saints, visiting, serving, encouraging, showing hospitality? Other activities are important but Christ and His assembly are more important. God should be first, then family, followed by work. Our Lord said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Mt. 10:37). His claims on us are absolute for He is God.
Let us then be loyal and whole-hearted in our devotion to our assembly family. In doing this, we will be loyal to Christ Himself. And then all other things will have their rightful place in our lives.