Why Do We Need Church
Many people ask, ”Why should they attend a church?” First thought, selfishly, is the fellowship and friendships! They are there for you, and you do life with them. You share prayer requests, so they know what is going on and how to pray for you and you for them. In the past month, we have lost several church members, and I have watched the church family rally around these families. One of the definitions for family is “all the descendants of a common ancestor.” We are all God’s children! I have witnessed the Pine Valley United Methodist Church congregation respond as brothers and sisters in Jesus, reaching out with comfort, love, and support to help our families in need. I cannot wait for a big family reunion, but until then, let’s keep encouraging each other! I love to open the mail and have a card of encouragement from my church family, knowing they took the time to do that! Even though I haven’t been able to see them, I know we are still connected! And the best thing is when you know someone is praying for you! No better gift! Faith in action! Encourage someone in your church family today! Let’s stay connected, even though we are scattered.
If you want to grow spiritually, then you must be a part of a congregation of believers. You need to become part of a group of believers, build friendships with them, and become a productive part of that body. Ruth 1:16, “ But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.’”
Ruth married into Naomi’s family. When Ruth became widowed, she pledged to remain with Naomi and to join with her people and worship God. At the end of the book of Ruth, we find Naomi with a grandchild, born to Ruth and a kinsman-redeemer named Boaz, who has married the widow Ruth and taken her mother-in-law Naomi into his household. Hope is restored to this family through God’s provision of extended family members who show His love to one another.
Our hope is restored by being part of a church family. While we are not blood-related, we are related by the blood of Jesus. The church becomes our community, and God created us for community. These are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Just like we go to school and have teachers to teach us, we need guidance, support, and mentors from a Christian community. We were never meant to build our relationship with Jesus totally on our own. Ephesians 2:19, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household…” You know you belong to God’s family. Being a part of a church family is a gift.
Martin Luther said, “at home, in my own house, there is no warmth or vigor in me, but in the church when the multitude is gathered together, a fire is kindled in my heart and it breaks its way through.” Hebrews 10:25, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” When I have my devotions, I lead myself. At church, in corporate worship, online or on Zoom, others lead me. Sometimes when I am doing my own devotion, I choose how much of the passage I am going to read. I also don’t interpret it the same as others. Most of the time, when I get to church, the first song puts me in worship mode. I am ready to receive. Then as others lead, I am able to respond. When I hear the whole congregation singing a song, it can bring tears to my eyes. I am in awe of the adoration of so many people. It fills my heart with joy when I worship with others.
Some people say church is like exercise. Sometimes you don’t feel like getting up and doing it - you can find every excuse in the book! But, you never regret exercise or going to church. Once it becomes a habit, you just go - no matter the weather, whether you feel like it, whether you have company, whether you stayed up late, whether you have a headache, etc. I have found that when I just don’t feel like going is when I need it the most. Psalm 73:28, “But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” It is good to be near God. The Bible says that Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” If He loved the Church enough to die for it, shouldn’t we support and attend it?
Times are different now, but you can still belong to the PVUMC church family! You can worship with us online or come to the outdoor services. We have Bible studies online and Zoom studies. The children and the youth are still doing things, including a drive-in movie recently! Get connected, and welcome to the family!