I know what you might be thinking: “What do you mean reasons why I shouldn’t go to church? Are you saying I shouldn’t go to church?” Let me start with this statement – you should go to church. The Bible teaches it (Acts 20:7; Hebrews 10:25). I believe it. Period. But going to church is only as good for us as the reasons behind why we do it. As with most things in life, when it comes to worship motive is nine tenths of the battle. And while the people around us may not know the inner workings of our hearts, God most definitely does. We just need to make sure it is in the right place when we choose to enter into His presence. So I desperately hope that you do assemble with God’s people and worship Him every time you possibly can, but if you do go to church here’s some reasons that shouldn’t make the cut…
Don’t go to church because you’re afraid of what others will think of you if you don’t. Now don’t get me wrong, to a degree it is important what people think about us. A good reputation equals credibility. But if the only reason I go to church is because I’m concerned with my image then my priorities are very seriously mixed up. Christianity is about far more than putting on a certain appearance. It is about a pious and reverent heart towards God. Worship is not about putting on airs. It is about expressing praise and awe to Him. Going to church simply for the sake of image is no different from the hypocrites who chose to pray on the street corners for all around them to hear (Matthew 6:5). So don’t go to church just because you’re afraid of what others will think of you if you don’t, be more concerned with who you really are.
Don’t go to church because you want to be entertained. I imagine attending church services has carried an audience mentality with it for longer than most would imagine. You know what I mean. Those who go to church and sit in the pews are the “audience” and those who lead in worship are the “performers.” One is passive while the other is active. And as long as church attendance carries with it an audience mentality then those who are in the audience are going to expect for the worship service to keep them engaged and entertained, and if it’s not then they will consider it to be out of touch. But never in the New Testament do you get the notion that God designed church attendance to carry with it an audience mentality. In worship we are all participants and God is our audience (John 4:23-24). We are trying to do things that are pleasing to Him, not necessarily us. As long as we can keep worship in its proper perspective then it will always be about what we should do to offer praise and glory to God rather than what makes me happy. So don’t go to church just because you want to be entertained. It’s not about you.
Don’t go to church because you think it’s your ticket to heaven. To some going to church is like clocking in to work. As long as you can get that timecard punched then regardless of what you do or don’t do at other times during your week then you’re on the fast track to heaven. In other words, people think if they go to church they deserve to go to heaven. But let me be clear. You don’t deserve to go to heaven and I don’t deserve to go to heaven. I don’t care if we practically live at the church house – nothing we can do is enough to make God indebted to us. That doesn’t mean obedience isn’t necessary (James 2:14ff). Obedience shows our reliance on and appreciation for God. But our obedience doesn’t earn us salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). That’s what grace is all about. So if my church going is really nothing more than a inward ploy to try to put God in my service instead of the other way around then I’ve got it all wrong. Going to church is not necessarily my ticket to heaven and I shouldn’t go with that mentality either.
However…if you have a burden on your heart to praise the God of heaven Who created you, Who loves you, Who sacrificed His Son for you, Who has offered you redemption, and Who will one day judge you – that’s why you should go to church. You should worship Him. You should glorify His high and holy name (Psalm 100:4). Time spent with God’s people in God’s presence is some of the most profitable time you will spend any given week. But you shouldn’t go to church for any other reason less than those God Himself has given. Otherwise the time we claim to spend with God is just an exercise in vanity.
-Andy
As a christian, I would have preferred you using “go to worship” instead of “go to church!” The church is the body of Christ. We are the body of Christ! I’m sure you know that we are the church. I really like your work!
Hey Ronald. Thanks for reading and for the compliment. I completely agree with what you said and tried to think of a way to word it more appropriately but wanted to encompass not just what we call the “worship assembly” but Bible classes and any other time Christians assemble (VBS, gospel meetings, singings, etc.). I didn’t know a good, concise way to express that, at least in an understandable way to a wide ranging readership so I just went with the common vernacular. Maybe “church services” would have been more appropriate. I’ll take that into consideration in the future. Thanks.