Why Have Church?

In these unprecedented times, we are all searching for purpose and structure. The church is not considered an “essential service” by the State or Federal governments. We should not be surprised at that determination. Todays government has never seen the church, or religion as a whole for that matter, as essential. But we believers in Christ have an entirely different view on the subject. You see God Himself has ordained the church and made it holy.

The church, however, is not a building or home nor any physical structure. The church is a body of believers united together in Christ. The Apostle Paul put it this way in 1 Cor 12:12-13: The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free-and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Paul compared the church with the human body. Both are made up of many parts and those parts serve different functions, but they are united in one purpose!

Elsewhere, Paul refers to the building blocks as “fitted together”. The church, no matter how large or small, has all the “parts” needed to perform the function of the church. And what is the purpose of the church? Well that was given to us again by Paul. In Acts 2:42-43: They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

While it may seem impossible for us to continue to function as a Bible believing, Christ-centered church; we know that with God nothing is impossible! We can continue with Bible study and prayer in the privacy of our own homes. Fellowship, however, demands some additional effort on our part. We need to pick up the telephone and call one another, checking in to make sure that all is well with each of the members.

The church will certainly survive. Jesus Himself said in Matt 16:19: . . . I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. The church will always be as long as we are on the earth. So let us be faithful to the One who has made us free. Let’s continue in the Apostle’s teaching, fellowship and prayer.

So what are you doing to fulfill the purpose of the church? Are you continuing in prayer? Have you checked on a neighbor to make sure they are well? Have you continued with your family devotionals? Be the church!