Truth Be Said

netchaplain

netchaplain

One can know God casually and be saved. But He needs to be known intimately, so a Christian can grow in the image of Christ (Rom 8:29; 1Co 15:49; 2Co 3:18). How do we get to know God intimately? Through enough church attendance and Bible study. There’s no way He would allow a believer to grow without these two occurrences, for He desires all believers to be in fellowship with other believers. Sure, a few can regularly get together for Bible study, but that’s not corporate worship and corporate Bible study! Hebrews 10:25 admonishes saints “not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another.”

When a Christian does not attend a church, everything they need to grow is according to God’s desire is missing! God does everything to cause believers to want to be together, for that’s how He wants us—together. If you’re in a church you just don’t like, you can find one you will like. If you can’t find one you like, you are not really looking (“seek and ye shall find” - Mat 7:7).

One can only love another according to how one’s applicable love is to God: “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen (1Jo 4:20)? Now, there’s no way you can love others the way our Father desires us to love, if you do not know those in a church.

I hope you can see that this article is only to admonish and not judge; and frankly, I do not think enough can be said towards admonishing believers to find a church they want to attend!



“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy” (if you’re reborn – Jude 1:24; Rom 16:25; Eph 3:20).
 
Hello netchaplain;

I cannot speak for those who choose not to attend Church nor in most cases can I convince them. But I can share our testimony.

When Hazel and I started attending a Church steadily there were a couple of weeks we didn't attend Church. We received a voice message from our new Pastor asking if we were alright? We were fine but just had old habits of sleeping in on Sundays and then watch football or a good movie in the privacy of our home.

We felt a prick to the heart and attended the next weekend. Unless we're traveling we can't remember the last time we didn't attend Church for two weeks or more for no reason.

There was a time when we attended, there was a little hindrance toward a brother or sister. I believe this can happen to Christians and fortunately for others, not at all. I remember hearing about Matthew 18:15 but it was an awkward passage to apply. I decided to roll up my sleeves and confront another brother or sister and at times went behind closed doors and after praying, opened up to them.

The awkwardness was there for fear of rejection but I slowly learned when one or the other initiates the talk by confessing responsibility or confusion to a relational or personality problem, it helped to break the ice and lead the other or both of us to let down our guard. Many times they will know you're making an effort to reconcile and seek forgiveness.

As time went on we developed courage to confront our brother or sister when there is a serious issue between us, alone. Today it seems we minimize our confrontations with others but are prepared in case a circumstance suddenly arises.

This discipline helped us bond closer to our brothers and sisters at Church and look forward each week to attend. We love gathering with our Church family.

Christianity breeds Christianity with all the trimmings. It really does. 🩷

Bob
 
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