Believers must go to church because the Bible commands us. It’s not an option that we can take for granted. It’s a command that we must obey. Thus, every believer must know the importance of church attendance.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching
Hebrews 10:25
The Bible commands us not to forsake church attendance. It should be enough reason for us to prioritize going to church. However, the Bible also shows us that it is the manner of some to neglect church attendance.
I understand that there are valid reasons why a person may not attend church, such as having a contagious disease, injuries, inability to travel, and many more. However, the verse in Hebrews is not about the inability to attend church, but rather it is about the lack of willingness to go to church.
Aside from the Bible’s command to attend church, let me give you a few more reasons from the Scriptures why we must prioritize church attendance.
The importance of church attendance: It is a biblical design.
And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Acts 2:46
The believers fellowshipped, prayed, and learned together as the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. These three things are essential in strengthening the bond between brethren. You can’t expect a church to have unity if they don’t fellowship, pray for each other, and learn from each other.
We do these three things when we go to church. Therefore, we must do our best to attend every service.
The importance of church attendance: It is for battling the devil.
We fight a spiritual battle. And we can only defeat our enemy through spirituality. As we fight our spiritual warfare, the devil tells us lies that distract us from the fight.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12
The devil might tell you that God does not care about you or will not provide for your needs. Sadly, many believers fall for these lies and become backslidden in their spiritual status. Thus, it is essential to go to church so that The Word of God will reinforce you with the truth.
Notice that most Christians who are weak in the faith take services for granted. On the other hand, Christians who prioritize church services in their schedules are those who overcome the enemy through faith.
The importance of church attendance: It is for biblical development.
If you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior, you have the Holy Spirit that helps you understand the Word of God. But at the same time, it is also God’s will for every believer to go to church and learn through preaching the Word of God. It is because God gave pastors and teachers to the church to educate God’s people with His Word (Ephesians 4:11-15.)
It is essential to understand this because some Christians think they don’t need to listen to the preacher since they already have the Holy Spirit. If they read the Bible, they should go to church since it was commanded in the Bible.
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2 Peter 3:16
The Apostle Peter mentions that some of the Apostle Paul’s writings were hard to understand. This attitude is dangerous for new believers since it could cause them to misinterpret Paul’s writings. This is precisely why there’s a proliferation of false doctrines in the present.
We are to read and meditate on God’s Word personally. But we must also join the brethren in listening and learning from preaching the Word of God during services.
Church attendance is a God-given command not to burden believers but to bless them. God wants you to obey His Word, be strong in the faith, and be mature spiritually. Therefore, church attendance is essential to every believer. Our spirituality depends on it.
