Do I Have To Go To Church To Be A Christian?
Through the years I’ve been asked if it’s necessary to go to church to be a Christian. Before I answer that question I think it’s important to bring some clarity about what a church is.
The majority of people, even many Christians, think of church as a place you go to on Sunday to worship the Lord. It’s unfortunate that our word for church has come to mean that because that’s not what church meant when it was used in the first century. In the original language of the New Testament the word for church was Ekklesia, which means an assembly or called out gathering of people, not a building. In other words the church is people, not a building. Not just any people, but the people of God who have committed themselves to following Jesus. What this means is that church is not a place you go to but rather an assembly you are a part of. If you are a Christian you are part of the universal church of Jesus Christ. I heard about a church that has a large sign in the back of their sanctuary that reads, “The Church has left the building.” The idea that church is a building has, in my opinion, set the church back because it sends the wrong message.
For instance our assembly of people called Pacific Life Church assemble together on Sunday mornings at 10am. It’s great that we get to worship together and hopefully be encouraged by that experience but the church is an everyday experience for the believer. Because we are the church, wherever we go, there the church is. The church goes to work, to school, to coffee shops, unfortunately, the DMV, the beach, concerts, national parks and anywhere life happens.
Let me circle back to the original question, “Do I have to go to church to be a Christian?” The person who asks this question is obviously referring to a church service. Do I need to go to a church service? The answer is no, you don’t have to go to a church service to be a Christian. However, based on scripture I believe it’s the healthiest way to live our Christian lives. The book of Hebrews was written to discouraged Christians. In fact they were so discouraged some of them decided to isolate themselves from the local gatherings.
Listen to what it says in Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT), “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” The big idea is that when we come together it strengthens us individually and collectively. In the first century church people would come together in homes, by rivers, on hilltops, and in various kinds of structures.
After COVID happened in 2020 a lot of people changed their engagement habits. Today I'm a lot more concerned about engagement than I am about Sunday attendance. Don’t get me wrong, I wish more people would come to our Sunday gatherings, but if it’s more convenient to meet up with a Life Group or do a Bible study with friends or take a long walk with a fellow believer to support each other I think that’s great. Establishing healthy spiritual rhythms is very important. Can a person be a Christian and not engage with other believers? Yes, but it won’t be easy. We were created for community, not isolation. Together we are better! Let’s do our best to stay connected and encourage each other.
Stay close to Jesus,
Steve