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  • Writer's pictureBible Brian

Me and my Bible under a tree


It is both slanderous to assert that Sola Scriptura means we don't need the Church, and true that some people misunderstand it that way. We live in a culture where it's permitted, encouraged even, to customise our religions to our liking. If you want to believe or practice a thing, you may do so. If you don't want to believe or practice another thing, you don't have to. Consistency is optional.


Because of this, church itself is often seen as an unnecessary burden. If we go, we go for the coffee, or to meet a particular friend, or even just to appear religious. Perhaps we even get dragged there by someone else, we're not there by our own will. But do we really need the Church? After all, the Bible makes the man of God complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17), right?


It's true. The Bible does indeed provide everything a Christian needs for a complete walk with God. The problem with the conclusion that therefore we do not need the Church, however, is that one of the things the Bible equips us with is the knowledge that fellowship is a good work. For example, in Hebrews 10:24-25, Paul exhorts us "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."


Now, first, let us make a concession: this verse is not a condemnation of missing a Sunday service. Throughout the entire New Testament, you will not find a single command to go to church on Sunday. In fact, when you go to Romans 14, you see that some people regard every day alike, which would include seeing Sunday as being equal to Monday, and that is completely ok. Therefore, while it will make me unpopular to say it, going to church on Sunday is entirely optional.


As, in fact, is going to church on the actual Sabbath day, i.e. Saturday, as some churches prefer. Similarly, some churches meet on a Wednesday, too. Attending these mid-week services does not make you more spiritual, nor does avoiding them necessarily show you have a problem. It can also be the only service you attend, you're completely within the will of God.


With all that being said, you do have a problem if you can't make it to some kind of gathering. You've probably heard the proverb "together we stand, divided we fall". This is true! When your religion is so individualistic that all you are is an individual, you become the easiest possible target for Satan. No one can correct you when you err. No one can rebuke you when you sin. No one can encourage you when you struggle. The more isolated you are from some kind of fellowship of believers, the more you will struggle in your faith. Not because the Bible is insufficient. Not because God is not enough. Rather, because for whatever reason, you are so divided from the faith that you willingly avoid those who share it.


It shouldn't be surprising that a faith based on love, even to the extent where we should esteem others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3), would effectively require us to be as closely knit as a swarm of ants or a herd of elephants. We need the Church like we need bread! Sure, Christ is all we need, but a part of being in Christ is being united to His Church. Thus, it will never be as simple as "the Bible is all I need". It may not be a specific command to meet on Sunday, but if that's where you will find the gathering of believers, why would you not want to gather with them? It seems absurd to even think that church attendance is a chore. It's a family gathering designed to edify, strengthen, encourage, empower, support, and love our brethren. If something inside you discourages you from doing that, it needs to be identified and removed as soon as possible.

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