It’s truly encouraging to see so many young people developing a real faith in Jesus. However, it’s equally heartbreaking to note what number of are selecting to walk out their faith alone, disconnected from any church community – even Bear Grylls recently claimed that Christians needn’t go to church.
This article isn’t about judgement – it’s a mild reminder of why the church still matters.
Let’s be honest: the hesitation some people have toward church shouldn’t be unfounded. The past few a long time have brought deeply painful revelations concerning the church – abuse, manipulation, scandal, and hypocrisy.
On top of that, some churches can feel legalistic and judgemental, sending the message that if you happen to don’t look or act a certain way, you’re not welcome.
Many people have walked away, not from God, but from the institutions that claim to represent Him. And in some ways, the church has failed this generation. But that’s not what the church was meant to be.
What Is the Church?
In the New Testament, the word used for church is “ekklesia,” a Greek term meaning “called-out assembly or gathering of individuals.” It refers to each the universal Church (all believers across time and space) and native churches (communities of believers who gather frequently). Essentially, the church is not a constructing, it’s the people of God.
Thus, if you happen to consider in Jesus, you’re already a part of His body (1 Corinthians 12:27), with Christ Himself because the Head (Colossians 1:18). However, what this text is encouraging is for one to belong to an area church. While a deep personal relationship with Jesus is an important foundation, true spiritual growth happens in community, not in isolation.
The Church Is Family
Life might be beautiful, however it’s also hard. God designed the church to be a spiritual family (Ephesians 2:19; Galatians 6:10; Romans 12:5) – a spot where we support each other in trials, rejoice in victories, and walk through atypical life in community. It’s meant to be an area of belonging and fellowship, not judgement. A spot of encouragement, not condemnation. Most of all, it’s where we learn to like.
The New Testament is stuffed with “each other” commands: Love each other (John 13:34-35), bear each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), encourage each other (1 Thessalonians 5:11). These can’t be practised alone. Love is, by nature, relational. As Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 reminds us: “Two are higher than one… If either of them falls down, one may also help the opposite up. But pity anyone who falls and has nobody to assist them up.”
The Church Helps Us Grow
The church also serves the core function of providing a sacred space of communal worship and prayer (Acts 3:42-47), which honours God and strengthens the Christian’s life and identity. But it isn’t only a social club or a weekly service, it’s where the Great Commission of discipleship happens.
Yes, we come as we’re, but we must always not stay as we’re. I do know it is a tough one to digest. In the Gospels, we see that Jesus didn’t just save the disciples, He hung out transforming them. In the identical way, we’re called to grow and to be challenged. That happens within the church – through teaching, correction, and guidance from Scripture, pastors and mature believers. Scripture states in Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens one other.”
The church helps guard against spiritual stagnation and provides us with accountability in living out our faith. What a privilege it’s to have a fellowship of believers to walk with us on our path of religion, especially in times of crisis or weakness.
And this process doesn’t stop with us – we grow together within the Lord in order that we may also help others grow of their relationship with the Lord. We are discipled to be able to disciple others. There isn’t any higher place for discipleship to happen – and be sustained – than within the church. Without that friendship of believers it’s so much easier to be swayed, tempted, or just quit.
The Church Is a Place of Purpose
Like I outlined earlier, the church is a gathering of the “called-out.” In other words, it’s the gathering place for individuals who have been chosen to hold forward the message of Jesus. You were saved for a reason. In the church, you discover your God-given gifts, learn the right way to use them, and step into your calling – not only in your profit, but for the serving of others and constructing of God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:4-7; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10). Your purpose unfolds in community. You were never meant to figure all of it out on your personal. Within the body of Christ you can find a wealth of wisdom in the religion and an abundance of life experience – individuals who have been through all of it and stayed the course, people who find themselves ready to present you actually sound advice if you need it and pray along with you as you seek to discern God’s will. Who would not want that?
No Church Is Perfect – But God Still Uses It
The church is made up of broken people. That’s why it’s messy sometimes. But Jesus didn’t quit on the church. In fact, He “loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Hence, neither should we quit on the church. We’ve all heard the phrase “Be the change you must see” and, yes, sometimes we will feel like we have heard it one too over and over. But there’s real wisdom in these words. Rather than walking away, can we be those to roll up our sleeves and put within the labor of constructing the Church God desires to see on this world? That cannot occur if we’re not a component of it.
As Jesus said in Matthew 7:16 and 20, “By their fruit you’ll recognise them.” A healthy church bears good fruit. It reflects God’s kingdom – diverse people, united in love and truth, showing the world that God’s grace is real and powerful.
So, please, discover a church. Not just any church, but a Christ and Bible-centred one which values God’s love, discipleship, and integrity. Pray about it. Ask God to guide you.
Don’t let fear, doubt, and even pride keep you on the sidelines. As Author Dr Don Raunikar correctly put it: “Proud people work on their very own initiative. They need to obey only their very own self-exalting impulses. Humility, however, sees the worth of the larger group, the church, or the family unit. Pride sees only the person.”
The truth is: you wish the church, and the church needs you.
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