Imagine a person asking, “Why do I need a grocery store? I can plant my own seeds, harvest my own crop, prepare my own foods. I don’t need a grocery store. I can take care of feeding myself.” There is a certain truth in that a person could grow and prepare many of their own foods. But chances are that due to time and energy constraints, difficulty accessing needed supplies, and other limitations, their eating habits and eventually their health would end up suffering. It’s very difficult, on your own, to grow and prepare all the foods that you need to maintain a healthy human diet. In the same way, on your own it is very difficult to receive all the spiritual food and nourishment that is regularly needed for a healthy Christian life. And even more, on your own, it’s impossible to live the Christian life, since the very nature of Christian life involves relating not only with God, but with others.
Here are some reasons why you and all of us need a church.
A place to receive God’s gifts: The church’s main responsibility is to bestow God’s gifts of His Word, the Sacrament of Baptism, and the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. In worship God gives us these gifts.
A place to respond to God’s gifts: We respond to God’s gifts with faith and thankfulness. Worship is a part of our response to God and His gifts. We sing hymns of thanks and offer prayers responding to the gifts God gives us.
A place of community for the people of faith:
A church is a gathering of God’s people. Jesus calls God’s people to gather together regularly for worship, for support, and for caring.
A place to grow:
Our faith is intended by God to grow and to thrive. Among God’s people and in God’s presence faith is nourished. In worship we find direction given, challenges presented, opportunities offered. All of these provide an environment for spiritual growth in faith towards God and in love towards others.
A place to be strengthened to serve:
Christians are called to serve in their homes, in their work, in their church, and in their community. It is God, in the course of worship, who gives strength for that service through His Word and sacraments.
You see, we could try to emulate these aspects of worship by ourselves. But chances are we’ll be lacking in a few of those blessings which God gives through His church. Our faith would be malnourished, stunted, and even deformed. We need regular food, presented in a variety of ways, for a wholesome spiritual diet that enables our faith to be sustained and grow.
What type of church should I look for?
Naturally, if you would ask me, I would recommend a church just like Resurrection Lutheran Church - a church with a great Pastor (just kidding!). But if one of my adult children said there was not a Lutheran church near where they live, I would give them the following encouragement about what church to attend:
A church that is faithful to the Word of God. A church where the message proclaimed through preaching and teaching is Christ-centered and Bible-based.
A local church. Some people travel a long distance to find just the right church. However, when they do they miss out on the vital support that occurs locally within that congregation. How can I socialize regularly with people who live an hour away from me? How can I serve a community that I don’t live near? How can I invite my friends to a church that is so far away? Yes, that far-away church may have more to offer or may be better in any number of ways, but a Christian cannot serve adequately, nor be served as well, when he or she does not live reasonably close by.
A church that honors the sacraments of God: A church where baptism is important and where the blessings of the Lord’s supper will be given. A church that honors the historical teachings and traditions of the church. A church is not just a group of people who have come together at this particular period of time. The church is a living entity, with generations preceding it. Yes, previous generations made their share of mistakes and blunders, just as we will. And yet, there are time-honored truths and traditions that have proven valuable over the generations. We don’t want to be stifled by the past, but we do want to receive the blessings the past has given us.
A church that is trying to follow God’s will and God’s way: Churches go through periods of strengths and weaknesses. We always want to go to the strong, vibrant, active church. But maybe God would want us in a church that is struggling, so that we can help that church grow through its struggles. A church is to be a blessing to us, but we, too, are called to be a blessing to a church.
Your faith will grow weak and malnourished without a church home. However, there is an imperfect church near where you live. Seek and you will find! You will find a place for you to be blessed and a place for you to be a blessing.
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