Why do I have to go to church?

It's the weekend. You're tired. You have school tomorrow. Why would you want to drag yourself out of bed and go to church on a Sunday morning? What if you find your church boring or you don't get along with the kids at youth group? What's the point of going to church anyway?

The Bible tells us that all believers ought to attend church so we can worship God together, be taught from His Word (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25), and have relationships with other believers.

These are all important parts of growing closer to God and learning to live your life for Him. It gives you a structure that can help keep you focused on serving Him and serving others.

The "Big C" Church & the "Small C" church

Once you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you have become a member of the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). That's the Church (big "C"). In order for this Church Body to work well, there are all different "body parts," and you are one of them (1 Corinthians 12:14-20)!

"God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose." —1 Corinthians 12:18

When the local church (small "c") gets together, they are following what we see the early believers doing in the book of Acts—gathering together regularly for encouragement, teaching, and just plain friendship. Coming together like this is what makes the Body of Christ function best in a practical sense.

Healthy Christian Community Helps

By having healthy relationships with Christians (of all ages!), we can learn from one another, encourage one another, and basically support each other (1 Corinthians 12:21-26). The Bible lists quite a few "one another" statements, which are basically things we ought to do for each other.

Things like loving one another (1 John 4:12), encouraging one another (Hebrews 3:13), inspiring one another to do good things (Hebrews 10:24), serving one another (Galatians 5:13), teaching one another (Romans 15:14), honoring one another (Romans 12:10), and being kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32).

We can have Christian community outside of Sunday morning, of course—and we should! But church is definitely a great and convenient place to get into a community and maintain consistency in those relationships.

Is it a sin to not want to go to church?

I realize that all of these things we're describing here makes for an ideal situation. We completely acknowledge that not every church is going to do all these things perfectly. Maybe the music isn't something you like. Maybe there's no one who shares interests with you. Maybe they don't even have a group for your age. Maybe there are people exhibiting toxic behavior. Those are valid reasons to dislike the small "c" church you're going to.

But remember, you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and new creatures need time and space to grow. Attending church is truly vital to developing your faith and maturity as a believer. It doesn't have to be THAT church. But taking time to find a healthy Christian community needs to be a priority.

If you find that you desire spiritual growth in Christ, but you also just don't enjoy church or you dread going every week, there may be something else going on in your heart. It's worth exploring what's going on.

Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom about pinpointing exactly what it is that's bothering you about your church or if something has turned you against "organized religion." Discuss your feelings with trusted friends and perhaps even seek Christian counseling to sus it out.

No church is perfect.

The people in a local church may have hurt you in the past, and that does happen. That doesn't make their behavior OK, and it's not sinful to protect yourself from harm. People are not perfect, nor are churches. Boundaries may be necessary to create a safe space for yourself.

Even if you choose to never return to a church community that has hurt you, forgiveness, grace, and understanding may be necessary in order to heal your heart from that past pain (Colossians 3:12-15).

Not every church is going to offer the perfect situation. You may be stuck where you are because that's where your family attends. You may not have transportation to go anywhere else. Maybe you're in a small town, and the options are limited.

One Non-Negotiable

No matter what a church's programs or musical tastes may be, the local church should offer at least this ONE thing: Teaching doctrines that are based entirely on the Bible, which is trustworthy (Psalm 111:7) and inspired by God Himself (2 Timothy 3:16).

Church attendance is not "required" for eternal life, but it will help you grow spiritually as a Christian. It's important to find a church that teaches from the Bible—first and foremost. Secondly, pray for your church to provide opportunities to make friends with other believers. It may be uncomfortable or awkward at first, but give it a try. Just because it isn't "required," that doesn't mean it has no benefit for you.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." —Colossians 3:16

ALSO SEE: