Where does it say in the Bible that one has to go to the Church?

Question: Some people say that it is not necessary that we have to go to the Church; we listen to God’s Word through You Tube and say our prayers while at home. Is this correct?

Answer:

        To understand the answer to this question it is essential that we understand the meaning of the word “Church” according to the Bible. The word from the original Greek language translated as Church is ecclesia. According to the Bible the Church is not a physical building made of bricks and stones, but a gathering of the people of God’s household (1 Timothy 3:15), it is the dwelling place of God (Ephesians 2:22). The definition of the Church as given in the Bible is: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2).

        At the time of the establishing of the first Church the Christian Believers regularly daily gathered together, and the purposes of their gathering together were: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). At that time they did this either in the place of worship or in house-holds, and it was the Lord who joined those who were saved into His Church “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47). In other words, the gathering together of the members of the ecclesia was a daily event, and its purpose was to learn the Word of God, to Fellowship together, to Pray together, to participate in the Holy Communion together, and to Worship the Lord together – and they “continued steadfastly” in this, i.e. their gathering together like this was taken very seriously, and had a great importance in their lives.

        Wherever the Gospel of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus went, and the people accepted this Gospel, and they incorporated the Word and life of the Lord into their own lives, there this gathering together was also accepted and emulated, and Churches started to gather in the houses of the Christian Believers (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Colossians 4:15; Philemon 1:2). Therefore, it is apparent that for a Christian Believer it was expected and necessary to gather together in this manner, as something according to and in the will of the Lord. In the Epistle to the Hebrews we find another instruction from the Lord about this that as the second coming of the Lord approaches, the gathering together of the Christian Believers should not diminish but increase even more: “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 10:25).

        Hence going to the Church is not a ritual or a formality that can be fulfilled this way or another and considered as accomplished. But this is gathering in the House of God, it is coming into the presence of God so that we may increase in His nearness, learn of His Word, and being members of God’s spiritual household we need to fulfill our part and responsibilty towards God’s family; and by doing so we get the opportunity to learn about and take care of the other members of our spiritual family and grow together with them, and it is also essential to ensure the spiritual growth and progress of a Christian Believer.

        The Lord is not in the least interested in every person who comes in and records his or her presence in the physical building made of bricks and stones, called as the Church, because He is not pleased with fulfilling of formalities and rituals but by obedience to Him (1 Samuel 15:22-23; Job 35:7; Isaiah 1:11-20; Malachi 1:10), and as shown from Hebrews 10:25 above, it is the Lord’s command that Christian Believers gather together more and more. Listening to a message on the You Tube and saying prayers may fulfill a formality or a ritual, but can never be seen or accepted as fellowshipping with other Believers. And, as is stated in Acts 2:42 it is not possible for Christian Believers to gather together for the “breaking of bread” i.e. participating in the Holy Communion through the You Tube.

        Therefore going to Church is not a ritual or formality, rather, because of growing in the nearness of the Lord, of learning His Word, of being a member of His family it is a way of fulfilling our responsibilities towards our spiritual family, a means of knowing, learning about and taking care of the members of our spiritual family, it is essential for the spiritual growth and progress of of a Christian Believer. Therefore it should be a priority for every Christian Believer to come to Church or the House of God and they should eagerly look forward to the opportunities to be in the House of God and fellowship with the other children of God (Psalms 84:1-2, 10; 122:1). But those who only think and care about fulfilling the requirements of the christian ‘religion’, they are not serious and sensitive towards the instructions and commandments of God, rather they are only interested in fulfilling the rituals and formalities of a ‘religion’, for which they have made their own concepts and remain entangled only in them – which Biblically is wrong, and unacceptable.