What Does the Bible Say About Being Born Again
Does the Bible say that we need to nourish church? Is information technology okay for a Christian to not attend church? With so many TV and Cyberspace evangelists, can they replace the local church? Is the local church irrelevant in this modern mean solar day and age? Is church building membership essential to one's walk in Christ and to a person's salvation?
What the Bible Says About Church Membership
The writer of Hebrews clearly says that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves as is the way of some in Hebrews10:25: "…non giving upwards coming together together, every bit some are in the addiction of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as yous see the Day approaching." In the previous poesy (five 24) the author says, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and expert deeds." Now it would be hard to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" if we are sitting at home and watching a TV or Cyberspace evangelist. Hebrews 13:vii is an impossible command for the Christian non assembling with the saints to follow since information technology says to "Remember your leaders, who spoke the give-and-take of God to you. Consider the outcome of their fashion of life and imitate their faith." You tin can not imitate what you do not see and you can not remember church building leaders if you never attend.
Paul'southward Tea 
Paul writes in Ephesians iv:11-12, "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built upward." Over again, it is hard to build up the body of Christ if we are alone at home. If you lot read the unabridged New Testament, at that place is not ane single lone-ranger Christian. Y'all will always run across the apostles mentioning the church in general. The epistles never, ever address single, solitary Christians about their walk in organized religion.
Paul mentions the gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians affiliate 12 and includes a spirit of wisdom, knowledge, service and so on. The indicate is that these gifts are intended for the many different members of the church building and if no one attends church they tin not use their gifts or the gifts of other Christian'south government minister to them.
Safety for the Sheep in the Sheepfold
John x:xi-18 mentions the Parable of the Skillful Shepherd. This conspicuously refers to Jesus Christ who said that He willingly lays downwardly His life for His sheep (v 17). He did this at Calvary. The shepherds in Jesus' time would prevarication downward at the gate and kept the sheep within the pen, for outside the sheep pen there were ravenous wolves that could kill them. There is protection just inside the sheepfold. Sheep are not very smart. They are completely helpless by themselves. In fact, if i falls on its back, it tin not get back and volition starve to death while unable to right itself. Plus the fact if information technology is on its back, it is like shooting fish in a barrel game for anything. Sheep have been known to walk correct off a cliff. Sheep are virtually defenseless. Sheep can not defend themselves. They are not very fast. Only if there is a faithful shepherd, the sheep know his proper name. They recognize the vocalization and will stay near the shepherd. Jesus Christ is the Head of the church but He has appointed under shepherds to shepherd local flocks. They are still subject to the Good Shepherd to which the sheep truly belong. But a sheep outside of the sheepfold is completely helpless and vulnerable. So too is the renegade Christian who forgoes church attendance.
In I Peter 5:two-4 Peter reiterates the instructions to the pastors (under shepherds), "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest proceeds, but eager to serve; non lording information technology over those entrusted to you, but existence examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of celebrity that will never fade abroad." Some say they love God but can't be effectually other Christians, but we are told to assemble together and love one another (John thirteen:34-35). Members of the church are God'south children, so you are in essence saying, "God I love Y'all, but I tin't stand to be around your children." Equally a male parent myself, I'd non be very happy with your telling me, "We dear y'all, but can't stand to exist around your children."
The Church is Many Members simply One Torso
Romans 12:4-5 is evidence that the church building consists of many members as Paul says, "For just as each of us has ane torso with many members, and these members exercise non all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one trunk, and each member belongs to all the others." This shows that we belong to one another. I Corinthians 12:xiv-xvi reveals that each part of the body of Christ, the church, is fabricated up of several members; "Even and then the trunk is not made upward of 1 office only of many. Now if the foot should say, "Considering I am non a hand, I do not belong to the body," information technology would non for that reason terminate being role of the trunk. And if the ear should say, "Considering I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," information technology would not for that reason stop being part of the trunk."
Information technology would be a foreign body that had an arm but no foot, or a torso that had a hand but no eye. What a dysfunctional trunk that would be. Each member has gifts of the Spirit. Each of these gifts serves different purposes but equally a whole, they make a salubrious performance trunk that is more effective in being the hands and anxiety of Christ on the globe. No single and individual member of a trunk is constructive at domicile lonely. It is useless of itself just when assembled together as a whole, information technology is able to serve, pray, build upwards, edify, and exhort other members of the trunk of Christ. The eye can not say that it doesn't demand the paw, nor the human foot says I have no need for the ear. I Corinthians 12:27 makes it clear that we are all part of the trunk of Christ, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." Each ane of us makes up the body only no single body part makes a body.
Jesus gives united states the plumbing fixtures example in John 15:1-eight where he speaks nigh the vine and the branches: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every co-operative in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does acquit fruit he prunes then that it volition be even more fruitful. You are already clean considering of the word I have spoken to you lot. Remain in me, equally I also remain in you. No branch can carry fruit by itself; information technology must remain in the vine. Neither can you conduct fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If yous remain in me and I in y'all, yous volition bear much fruit; autonomously from me yous can do nothing. If you practice not remain in me, you are like a co-operative that is thrown abroad and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the burn and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, enquire whatever you wish, and it will be done for you lot. This is to my Father's glory, that you carry much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
A branch that is detached from the vine speedily withers and dies and is simply good for the fire pile. If it remains fastened to the vine it continues to be fed, nourished, thrive, and virtually chiefly it bears fruit. Apart from the vine, the branch can not ever produce fruit. The illustration is that a church member detached from the vine, that is the church that Jesus Christ congenital, tin can not grow and produce fruit. The aforementioned thing applies with a part of the trunk. A foot discrete from the body will die and plough gang light-green. Information technology can no long walk on its ain and this weakens the entire body.
Nether the Church'south Dominance
Romans chapter 12 is the most authoritative affiliate on how a church building should alive amidst the members and under the submission of those who are over the flock. Paul also addresses those who are in dominance in the church building in I Thessalonians v:12-13, "At present we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you lot, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you lot. Agree them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other." It is impossible to admonish the church leadership if you are sitting at dwelling on the couch watching a Television evangelist or listening to one on the radio or internet. These leaders include the pastors, the elders, the deacons, and Sun school teachers. It is hard to imagine these all appearing in your habitation for yous to admonish and respect them and their office, which is providentially God-ordained.
God has placed each one of united states in the body of Christ equally it pleases Him and not where nosotros place ourselves. God says through Paul in I Corinthians 12:18, "Just in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, merely as he wanted them to be." God did non place these members outside of the torso nor did He intend for each member to exist in single, individual homes considering they tin not function properly detached from one another.
The Church Christ Congenital
Jesus said that He will build His church (Matt. 16:eighteen) and the gates of hell will not prevail confronting it. Jesus' Church was built upon the apostles Peter, John, Paul, and the remaining apostles. He would not build a church only to have members scatter everywhere to their homes. If you believe that church membership is optional and then yous exercise not understand scripture. Jesus will come up some mean solar day and take away the church. He has a peachy banquet prepared for the church which is described as a helpmate. There will be the great wedlock feast of the church to the Lamb of God. He does not marry a single, solitaire member. The whole church is the bride of Christ. He marries the church and then they rejoice at the nuptials feast and for all eternity. If y'all fail to nourish a Bible believing church building and y'all are born-again Christian, the Lord may chasten y'all and correct you since He chastens every one of His children (Heb. 12:six). If y'all are not, observe a Bible believing church where the Word of God is taught, where Christ is the middle of worship, and where you can become part of the body of Christ. Then at Christ'due south return, you can be with Him forever in eternal joy and fellowship. I pray that you exercise. And if you are a Christian, let this serve as a biblical lesson; y'all should not be forsaking the assembling of yourselves. God desires to have you in a church. He commands information technology. Then go find one.
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Sources
The Holy Bible, New International Version
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