Barna’s research shows that 1 in 3 people in our nation today are unchurched.  An unknown number of these would be considered “post-churched” or people who used to attend church but now for whatever reason no longer do.  It’s a growing trend.

We all know people who have been disillusioned or wounded by the church.  In fact, most of us in some way or another could raise our hands for that altar call.  Whereever 2 or more are gathered in His name, there’s going to be conflict.  It’s inevitable. 

But, I believe the church is still where it’s at and here’s why.

1-There is a presence of God in the coroporate gathering that’s unique.

God shows up when we gather together.  It’s not that we can’t experience a measure of His presence privately.  But He’s promised to be in our midst when we gather and He undeniably is true to that word.

2-When the body of Christ works like it’s supposed to, it’s really really good.

I’m in a church which functions the way it should.  The leaders conciously and intentionally pour love and acceptance into the sheep.  As a result, the sheep have taken on the heart of the leaders and pour love and acceptance into one another. 

In this atmosphere, lives are radically changed.  Body life is expressed in little ways and big ways.  It could be as simple as someone offering to take you to the airport at 5:00 in the morning.  It could be as big as folks close to you decding in secret to make over your entire house and then raising the money themselves to do it and doing all the work themselves.  It is as simple as loving one another’s children and being genuinely interested in them as real people.  It’s as big as helping a single mom buy her own home or put her daughter thru college.  It’s as little as taking someone’s shift in the nursery.  It’s as big as listening to someone’s deepest and scariest self-revelation and looking them in the eye and telling them, “I still love you.  Nothing has changed.”

When community works like this—people start being freed of bondages, people start accepting themselves, people stop judging so harshly because they are no longer being judged.  Lives are radically changed.

That doesn’t happen when you’re sitting at home by yourself reading the Bible.  It just doesn’t.

3-God speaks thru the angels of His houses

In Revelation, God refers to pastors as the angels of the local assemblies

Like it or not, God has an authority system set up.  He speaks thru His pastors.  They carry with them an authority that others do not.  They have the mind and heart of God for their assembly.  To go it alone is to miss out on an impartation specific to a local church.  It’s too good to go without.

4-God set up the church and Jesus is the head

A body can’t function apart from it’s head.  Jesus is the head of the church.  If your’re not a part of the organized functioning church, you’re not connected to the head.  Disconnected parts die.  There’s no life apart from the body. 
If you’re reading this, are a believer, and stopped going to church, I understand that tendency.  I went through a period in my life when I wanted more than anything to drop out of church.  The body had hurt me, pastors had hurt me, and life was tough. 

But pushing through that, finding a place of forgiveness, and finding those who would pour grace into me has made the difference in my life.  Churches which work are out there.

It’s worth it to stay in the game and find one that works.