As many of you know, we live in an individualistic culture. America and our Western society is all about each person having his/her own identity. While this can be a good thing, it's not such a good thing when it comes to the Christian life. The Christian life is designed to be lived in a radical and intentional community of believers. When people say, "I love Jesus, but not the church," they have no idea how unbiblical that statement is. One cannot love Jesus, and not his Bride. They go together. He is the Head, and the church is His body. You cannot have just part of Christ, you must have all of Him, which includes His church.
"This idolatry of privacy and individualism is one of the greatest detriments to sanctification in the church today. God has placed us in a family because we don’t grow very well on our own. It’s still not good to be alone. We need the encouragement, correction, and loving involvement of others who are willing to risk everything for the sake of the beauty of his bride." -Elyse Filtzpatrick (http://theresurgence.com/2012/04/23/the-idolatry-of-individualism)
Our church community must be radical. It must be difficult, and outside of our Western comfort zone. It's not enough to just show up and shake a few hands during the welcome portion of the Sunday morning service. Coming only on Sunday is not Biblical; it is NOT New Testament community.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:44-47
This is what our attitude towards our church should look like. Laying down our lives for those in our fellowship, even if we don't have much in common with them or don't really like them that much. We must love them. We must labor in prayer for our pastors, teachers, elders, and church family. This picture of a Christian church in Acts doesn't look like a 21st Century American church.
"Anyone who claims to possess this love for God's people, but avoids their regular gatherings, needs to reexamine his relationship with the Father of this family." -Donald Whitney
Going to church doesn't save us. We can't earn God's love through church attendance, tithing, or other good works. However, to not be apart of an daily and intentional church community would be evidence of a false Biblical Christianity, and maybe that one doesn't know the Head of the Church. We follow God not only individually, but relationally.
"That's how participation in congregational spirituality builds our individual spirituality. When we're with God's people, the Spirit strengthens us in ways that do not occur when we're alone." -Donald Whitney
The church is not some human invention. It's God's idea, and it's how God chose to reach the world. It's not an option, but a command. We cannot live comfortable lives without the laboring of a radical c
ommunity. The author of Hebrews speaks directly to "Christians" who are not apart of a body.
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. Hebrews 10:24-25
I'll end with another great quote from Donald Whitney that sums up the message I'm trying to get across.
The New Testament knows nothing of the individualized spirituality of today and nothing of a Christianity that exists apart from the local church.
