The church plays a vital part in most Christians’ life, and it gives a good feeling in mind and body when visiting the churches. It is an undeniable factor that churches aids in enhancing the spiritual levels of the people. However, there is confusion among most Christians when it comes to the topic of “does someone need to attend church to be spiritual” The answer is definitely not. But on the other hand, the spirituality, teachings of Jesus taught, and takes one much closer to God and digs deeper by attending a Church. A believer can gain a lot of knowledge of God and get disciplined by attending a church that helps them grow more in Christ, and that doesn’t deny one can’t gain understanding or grow spiritually without attending a church.
You are not in the church. You are the Church.
The primary reason I’m meeting with the church is that I’m the church, and it connects with God. You’re not attending mass. The church is you. Just attending the church every week or every day will no way favor you until you accept Christ and follow His words to become spiritual. I agree that becoming a church has much to do with living your life for Christ, expressing the love of God by loving others and sharing your faith with the individual.
When looking into the meaning of the word Church you’ll probably find that none of them falls into “person who attends church”. Essentially, becoming a Christian implies “being a follower of Christ.”
And what does following Christ mean? The Bible is the only way to look to discover the true meanings and walks of life. Several verses are saying the same thing. What happens on the inside is about becoming a true follower of Christ. Jesus was a man like us, and yet He never sinned once.
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24. “For this, you were also called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His steps: Who committed no sin.” 1 Peter 2:21-22.
He made it possible for us, because of this, to transcend sin as well. Being a Christian means, I’m walking on this way to conquer the sin I’m tempted to overcome. The outward forms and practices, the appearances we bear before individuals, or becoming a member of a specific church, are not the items that determine what a Christian is.
So then, you might wonder, is it still essential to go to church? As long as I have the Word of God that tells me the life Jesus lived, I can’t be a lonely Christian.
Not a regulation, but rather a need to go in the church
In the Bible, there are no hard and fast guidelines for attending church. The author of Hebrews, however, makes it clear how it should be taken by representatives of the body of Christ.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our faith without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23-25.
We need to confess to each other our religion, thereby stirring each other to love and good works!
A true follower of Christ would learn that they need to attend the church, where they receive support and encouragement from those who work to create this body of Christ and fellowship with them.
People who attend church regularly have lower blood pressure and higher immune systems, are less likely than non-churchgoers to consume alcohol and drugs, show lower rates of depression and suicide and are more likely to live longer.
The more they engage, the greater the influence of this the life-extending effect, and even when other variables are accounted for, the effect is observed.
Greater Mental and Physical Health – Benefits of visiting the church
Researchers believe it is probably not only one aspect that produces these benefits for the mind and body while going to church, but a mixture of all of the factors mentioned here, and the way they affect so many different aspects of the life of an individual. Fellow congregants’ supportive social pressure, and also the church-sponsored addiction services, can really aid people to quit smoking or alcohol. It has repeatedly been shown that the form of robust social care offered by the church promotes physical and mental wellbeing.
At church, the discipline gained will carry over into activities such as diet and exercise. Messages of hope and a sense of purpose will raise the spirits of the participants.
It is moreover clear that we can survive spiritually without going to church, but the church plays an integral part in our life transformation more like Christ. We will be a part of the community, helping each other in growing up in Christ.
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”. As the body of Christ, we should not leave the habit of going to church.