1. THE CHURCH MATTERS TO JESUS
"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." (Ephesians 5:25)
If Christ loved His Church (people) enough to die for her, then every believer who loves Christ should also love His Church and be committed to her well-being. By being committed to the well-being of a local church, we are demonstrating our commitment to the well-being of Christ's global, eternal Church.
2. GENUINE BELIEVERS WANT TO DO LIFE TOGETHER
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and god works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Christians who have the Holy Spirit of God living in them will naturally gravitate towards being with other believers: to learn from them, to serve them, and to encourage and stimulate each other to do great things for God. A person who professes Christ Jesus as Lord but has no desire to be among brothers and sisters in Christ is not a healthy Christian. Our participation and our heartfelt attempts to gauge our love for fellow believers is a God-given way to examine whether or not we are truly a "new creation".
3. GENUINE BELIEVERS WANT TO LOVE EACH OTHER
"If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother who he has seen cannot love God who he has not seen." (1 John 4:20)
The local church is where we begin to learn and apply what it means to love God and love other people. It provides believers with opportunities to serve and love people who are both similar to and very different from themselves. In a society that focuses almost exclusively on "What's in it for me?", the local church should be filled with believers following Jesus' example of sacrificing for others out of love and promoting unity through the teaching of God's Word and a shared gratitude for what God has done for everyone who will repent and believe.
4. GENUINE BELIEVERS WANT TO SERVE EACH OTHER
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (1 Peter 4:10)
The local church is where believers serve God by using and improving whatever talents and gifts God has given them for His glory and the building up of other believers. Bouncing from church to church based on superficial judgements, unforgiveness, momentary needs, or entertainment value is to be focused on self. Likewise, "attending" a church - receiving time and attention from her leaders and resources from her members but never giving back - is to avoid making that commitment to the Body of Christ and to keep your God-given gifts to yourself.
5. GENUINE BELIEVERS WANT TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO EACH OTHER
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you." (Hebrews 13:17)
Unfortunately, Christians are not immune to the influence of a society that says nobody has a right to tell anyone how to live and authority cannot be trusted. Yet, the Bible reveals that God expects Christians to submit to their spiritual leaders and rest assured that those leaders will give an account to God for the souls under their care. That doesn’t mean submit blindly, even if the leaders ignore or violate Scripture. It means submit to them so long as they are not teaching lies or personal opinions, are doing their best to obey God’s Word, and want what God wants for every believer - continual growth in holiness and love.
It can be discouraging and draining on churches to keep reaching out to and giving time, energy, and instruction to believers who have no intention of committing, no desire to grow or invest in others, and no passion for the kingdom of God. Joining a local church demonstrates that you are willing to trust God's authority expressed through who He has placed there as leaders.
