Why wouldn't you want to go to church?

There are two fundamental misunderstandings about church in Christianity. The first is to believe church is just the building. We have to go to church on a Sunday, or we annoy God. The second is to take this the other way, saying the Church is actually the people, therefore we don't really need to go to church.

The truth is, while there is no set schedule for when one must attend church, its significance cannot be undermined. As Christians, we are supposed to build each other up, whether it be on a Sunday in a building, or anywhere else in the world on any other day. Church neither begins on a Sunday morning, nor ends on a Sunday afternoon. It is always in session. Paul tells us "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16), 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 10:24-25).

Nothing in scripture commands a specific time or day to meet, but as Sunday has effectively been standardised, does it not make sense to do so? On Sunday, that is where most believers can be found, so why wouldn't you be found there also? God isn't counting your attendance, but He is monitoring your heart. Do you love your brethren? Are you building them, or seeking to be built by them? If not, what's going on? You may have a bigger issue than church attendance to deal with. Once you've dealt with it, or maybe even in an attempt to deal with it, get to church.

Recommended song: Lecrae - The Bride