Years ago, a wise man advised me that a man who calls himself a Christian must live out his life as a ‘thank you’ to Jesus for what He did for us. He gave His life as the ultimate sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. For that, our lives should be one huge, “THANKS!”
How do we accomplish that? First, we must create a strong relationship with a church family. This is obedience to Hebrews 10:25: “…not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
This negates the common assertion: “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.” A Believer certainly must create a substantial, sustaining relationship within a church family. Hebrews 10:24 tells us why: “…and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” Believers can’t fulfill that command unless we commit ourselves to meeting together.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) A person may believe that verse applies everywhere. For example, he might say everyone who works at a particular workplace must bear each other’s burdens. It’s a nice sentiment, but it’s not attainable because the workplace doesn’t include all Believers. Non-Believers cannot fulfill the law of Christ.
These commands pertain only to Believers, and we are not to ignore them. Paul instructs the church family in Thessalonica as follows: “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) How is a Believer to follow any of these commands if he is not committed to regularly being a part of a church family?
Substantially plugging into a church family provides strong evidence you’re a Believer. If you’re not plugged into a church family but consider yourself a Believer, then you should re-consider your position of not being a part of a church family. You’re living against Scripture.
Does it matter what church family you plug into? Of course. If a church family teaches a way to gain eternal life with God other than through Jesus Christ, that’s incredibly wrong teaching. Hebrews 10:10 emphasizes this: “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
No other path exists in becoming a Believer except through Jesus. Later in Hebrews 10, we find this warning for a person who promotes a different path: “How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29)
In other words, choose another path than Jesus, and you lose. If you’re involved with a church family teaching different paths to becoming a Believer, walk away.
That’s why affiliation is a poor measuring stick. I’m Baptist, but being a Baptist in no way guarantees I’m a Believer. I’m an official member at Rozetta Baptist Church. That in no way guarantees I’m a Believer.
If I declare myself to be a Believer, my visible life must proclaim that I’ve trusted in Jesus, and Him alone, as my Savior. That includes living my life as a ‘thank you;’ first and foremost within a church family that believes in the absolute truth of Jesus Christ as I do.
The Bible, God’s perfect, inerrant, complete Word to us, provides these two measuring sticks. A man once told me he finds God in the woods. No, he doesn’t. We find God in His Word. That’s the only place we can find Him. It’s God’s perfect revelation of Himself. Search for Him there, not in an oak tree.
Another man once told me his life is between him and God. In other words, he and God will figure out his salvation. The man desired to establish his own truth about being a Believer. Sadly, our own truths won’t work. How can they if we aren’t God?
Being a Believer means extending your life into the lives of others. Your first focus should be helping and supporting the believers in your church family. Where can you plug in? What ministries can you help out with? Who in your church family needs encouragement and support.
Being active in your church family serves as a wonderful, genuine ‘thank you’ to your Savior who has given you abundant life. Share that abundant life with your church family.
Dan, I miss going to church so much! But Wes has emphysema and is on oxygen all the time. He has a hard time breathing without it. We listen to the church service on my phone, but it’s not the same as being there. I hope God will forgive us?
My goodness! There’s no need for forgiveness from Him. You and Wes are doing exactly what you can do, the only thing you can do, in order to connect to your church family. God knows your hearts! Keep doing what you’re doing!