“Do I have to Go to Church to be a Christian?”

John 6:68, Hebrews 10:25

Do I have to go to church be a Christian?

Do I have to go every week?

There’s a saying I’ve heard that going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. I don’t, we as Christians don’t go to church in order to be Christians. I go because I know that I’m a broken sinner who has sinned against God countless times.

But at church I hear of the hope that I have. That Jesus lived the perfect life that we have not, that he died an innocent death, that he rose again to show that his payment has been accepted. These are words of life. Knowing Jesus as my savior from sin how can I not take every opportunity to hear those words.

As the Apostle Peter says in John 6:68

Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)

Not only that, but as we gather together we are reminded of the hope that we have as baptized Christians, we are reminded of all the promises that God attaches to baptism. And here we have the opportunity to receive Christ very body in blood. The price he paid for our redemption.

Hebrews 10:25 tells us:

Let us not give up. Meeting together some are in the habit of doing. But let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

As we gather together around the word and sacraments. We have the opportunity to encourage one another and to be encouraged. What a blessing we have in weekly opportunities to gather around the word and sacraments and to praise the God of our salvation.

May God bless us as we do, Amen.

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