Do Christians “need” to go to Church?

Do Christians need to go to church on a regular basis?  Is it truly important in this era of technological communication to connect with Christians on a regular basis?

At one time in our society, this question would never have been asked!

  However, in 2019 only 23% of Americans attended church every week![1]

However, in 2019 only 23% of Americans attended church every week![1]

Times have changed and today many Christians question if they need to go to church at all, let alone once a week!  Most people have a long list of great reasons to skip church such as:   

• It’s been a long week and I’m tired
• I need this day to catch up on work around the house
• People at church are hypocrites
• Church is just an outdated thing.  I don’t have to go to church to be saved

The list of realistic excuses for skipping church could go on and on in today’s crazy busy world!  The question is, what does the Bible say? 

The question is, what does the Bible say?

I’ve recently been studying the book of Acts and events in Paul’s life have reminded me of the importance of church and connection to other believers!

As you may recall Paul was temporarily blind after his interaction with Jesus on the road to Damascus.  Paul spent his first three days as a believer blind!  Jesus could have healed Paul’s temporary blindness in the same way he inflicted it.  But he didn’t!  Jesus chose to use a human’s touch and presence to reinstate Paul’s site.  It is recorded in Acts 9:17:

“Then Ananias went to the house and
entered it.  Placing his hands on Saul,
he said, “Brother  Saul, the Lord-Jesus,
who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me so that you
may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit”  NIV

Isn’t it interesting that he chose to use a human to work through?  I seriously doubt it was an accident that the King of the Universe chose to use human hands where they weren’t actually necessary.  I think he was trying to teach Paul, and us, of the importance of Christian connection.

I think he was trying to teach Paul, and us, of the importance of Christian connection.

According to George Woods, “It was necessary for Saul to link up with other Christians.  The Lord send a disciple named Ananias to Saul to connect him to the body of Christ.  God did not call Saul to found a new denomination, new movement, or independent ministry.  Saul’s ministry was to be part of the body of Christ and the church already in place” [2]

Had Jesus instantaneously healed Paul he may have been tempted to think, like we often do, that he didn’t need Christian connection, what we now know as church! 

Nothing could be further from the truth. 

After the restoration of Paul’s site, the Bible tells us that,

“Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.”  
Acts 9:20 NIV.  

Paul, then still called Saul, went to church!

Throughout Paul’s life, which was spent expanding and establishing the church, he never failed to seek fellowship with other Christians.  He returned to Jerusalem on several occasions to talk to the other disciples.    

Consider Paul’s words in Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Throughout Paul’s life, which was spent expanding and establishing the church, he never failed to seek fellowship with other Christians.

Paul knew that, as time passed, it would become increasingly difficult to live in a Christ like manner.  Increasingly difficult to love others.  He knew that Christians would need to encourage each other like never before in a world that would grow increasingly difficult.

There is no excuse we can give for not going to church that Paul couldn’t have given.  In fact, he probably had more excuses. 

Yet, he went to great lengths to be with the body of Christ, imperfect though she may be, for encouragement and strength.  So should we! 

1.  Duffin, Erin, “Church Attendance of America 2019”  https://www.statista.com, 2020.
2. Wood, George O.  Acts:  The Holy Spirit at Work in Believers.  St. Louis, Global University, 2010.