Do I Have to Go to Church?

Have you ever heard anyone say, “You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian?”

Maybe that’s something you said or thought, but is it true?

Yes, I think it is true that you can be saved by Christ and not attend church, but you would be missing out on one of the main ways God wants to feed your soul and equip you to walk with Him. Why would we want to miss out on knowing Him more and having greater intimacy through the gifts of fellowshipping with other believers? Plus, the Bible commands us to gather together to spur each other on with support from our personal resources and Spirit-filled giftings while also receiving instruction from His word through teaching and spiritual songs. Not gathering with other believers regularly is like getting married but never going on dates to cherish one another. Yes, you’re married, but it’s so much less than it could be.

To help you or your friends make a connection with a fellowship of believers we’re sharing our annual River Region Church Directory inside this month’s issue. There are many great options across our entire area, so I encourage you to visit multiple churches as you pray about where God wants you to get plugged in. Also, you’ll see advertisements for churches throughout this issue. They’re a great place to visit because they’ve made it clear they’re committed to welcoming visitors like yourself and making it easy to get connected.

We want to see you thrive in your walk with the Lord. That can’t happen as it should without having other believers supporting you and you supporting them. Make sure to take the steps to find a church this Sunday or invite a new neighbor to join you at the church you already attend.