Judges 18

You hear people say all the time that you don’t need to go to church in order to be a Christian. Of course, church attendance isn’t salvation. But there are some very important reasons why a true Christian ought to want to worship, fellowship, and serve with other believers on a regular basis.

In Judges 18 the Danites were looking for a place to live. So, of course, they wanted to find the best land, and land occupied with people who could be easily defeated in battle. They found Laish. Here’s what they found:

1. the people were living in safety
2. they were unsuspecting and secure
3. the land lacked nothing
4. the people were prosperous
5. they lived far from other people “and had no relationship with anyone else.”

I think that describes many people who call themselves Christians but don’t go to church. They feel secure in their relationship with God. They claim they are fine the way they are. Why would they need a church?

When the Danites attacked, the people in Laish had no one to help them, no one had their backs, and they were soundly defeated.

I don’t think I need to paint a clearer picture. You and I are under attack. I choose to go to war against the enemy shoulder to shoulder with people I know who are committed to Jesus like I am. I know they have my back. And I have their’s.

The added blessing of standing with these people is the joy of simply knowing and loving them. A church can be a family you choose. We laugh at my church. We cry. We struggle. We encourage each other. We hold each other accountable. We even just hang out on occasion. And we always pray for one another. We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Plus, and not the least of the reasons to go to church is the privilege of corporate worship, hearts in unison with love toward and in awe of our Lord and Savior, the act of like minds focused on our Heavenly Father. It’s a mini-heavenly gathering every week.

If you are one who says they don’t need church, I would say you are wrong about that. When you isolate yourself and deny yourself the relationships with people who love the Lord, you leave yourself wide open for Satan’s arrows.

And, my friend, you are neglecting your responsibility to care for them, too. It’s not all about you. You are needed as much as you need them.

Don’t say you don’t need to go to church in order to be a Christian. The truth of the matter is you need church very much in order to be the Christian God wants you to be.