Why Young Christians Absolutely Need to Go to Church

True or False: I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian.

This topic used to make me cringe—like, really cringe—because, deep down, I know church attendance is an essential part of the Christian life. But why? What’s the real reason Christians need to go to church? There’s no verse that says, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him and goes to church 52 times a year shall not perish but have eternal life.” So why go to church?

The truth is, like coins, reversible jackets, and political views, the answer to this one has two sides. Let’s consider both right now.

Do Christians really need to go to church?

Salvation: The Heart of the Matter

Rather than listening to me blab, check out what the Bible says about salvation:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Ephesians 2:8-9

As with John 3:16 (the verse I purposely misquoted above), there is no clause about church attendance in regards to eternal life. The person who attends mass 365 days a year and the one who scrapes by with a mere once-a-month church attendance record could walk into heaven side-by-side. So if you’re taken captive in a forty-day hostage situation, relax. The promise of eternal life will not be ripped from your hands simply because you cannot make it to church.

For more about salvation by faith: What is the Hardest Thing to Believe in Christianity?

But don’t stop here! There’s another side to the answer for “Why go to church?” and those who fail to acknowledge it risk missing heaven by 18 inches.

The Great Head-Heart Dilemma

Eighteen inches = the approximate distance between your head and your heart.

If your head knows what you believe, but your heart is not on board, you’re going to miss heaven by 18 inches.

I’m going to be very blunt and risk offending a few egos, but Christians who claim you don’t need to go to church to be a Christian have a heart problem.

“My faith is fine, I believe in Jesus, I’m good to go. Why bother with church? “

If this is how you feel, then faith is only in your head, not in your heart. It hasn’t trickled down into the very deepest parts of your innermost being. If your head knows what you believe, but your heart is not on board, you’re going to miss heaven by 18 inches.

Thank goodness it’s not to late to change that.

Faith, Fire & Fuel

Think of your faith like a fire. You start with a tidy pile of tinder and fuel, then strike a match and, voila! You have flames. That should keep you warm all day, right?

Not so fast.

To stay warm, you have to add more fuel at regular intervals. And if the fire starts to dwindle, pushing the coals together will create more heat.

What if you want your fire to go out? You could douse it with an extinguisher (a very instant way to kill a fire) or you could stop adding fuel and separate the coals so they no longer touch each other. A fire treated in this manner will take a longer time to die, but it will—with absolute certainty—eventually die.

Faith is a fire, and prayer, God’s word, and fellowship with other believers are the fuel. Satan will do anything to extinguish that fire. Sometimes, he uses a life event or circumstance to kill your faith instantly (like the fire extinguisher). But his favorite and most effective tactic is to cut off the fuel supply and separate the coals.

In this way, your faith will die a slow, almost imperceptible death.

Why Christians ABSOLUTELY Need to Go to Church

Satan’s favorite and most effective tactic is to cut off the fuel supply and separate the coals.

Do you ever struggle with temptation? Are you suffering pain or dealing with a difficult situation at home or school right now? All these threaten to extinguish your flame of love for God. Alone, you might give off a tiny amount of heat for a while, but eventually your flame will lose its power and die too.

None of us is big enough to fight these battles alone.

But think of the coals in a fire. One tiny coal isn’t going to heat a house, but put them together and watch them burn! See how they lean on each other to create more heat. Feel the blast of warmth they give off.

Related: How to Build Rock Solid Faith When God Stirs The Coals

What Does the Bible Say About Going to Church?

There’s no eleventh commandment that says “Thou shalt go to church,” because the first commandment covers it all: “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). God comes first, even before the desire to sleep in on Sunday morning. You were created to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). That means loving God all the way, not just when it suits your schedule and lifestyle. (See my post How to Love God: What is God’s Love Language?)

So does he tell us to go to church? You bet!

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25

Community was a huge part of Jesus’ ministry, then Paul’s ministry. Believers gathered to hear God’s word, worship together, and encourage one another. These weren’t Christian social mixers. They were times dedicated to God.

Embrace the Family of God

So, in answer to our initial true-false statement—”I don’t need to go to church to be a Christian”—the answer is both true and false.

You don’t need to go to church in order to claim the title of Christian. But you absolutely need it to keep that fire going.

True, you don’t need to go to church in order to claim the title of Christian. But, false, you absolutely need it to keep that fire going.

Church is the place where you hear God’s word and confess your sins, where you lift your voice in praise with other believers and open your heart to being all God wants you to be. Your faith is fueled and his love burns hotter when you spend time with other believers.

That’s why church attendance is important.

11 Reasons Why I Go to Church

I don’t go to church for tradition, entertainment, or another check mark on my Christian to-do list. I go to church…

1. To worship my God.
2. To gather with others who love him the way we’re called to do.
3. To hear him speak.
4. To spend dedicated time in prayer.
5. To praise him through music.
6. To confess my sins and struggles.
7. To lay down my burdens, knowing he will take them up.
8. To thank him for the precious gifts in my life.
9. To beg him to mold the hearts of those who do not yet believe.
10. To bask in the feeling of his endless perfect love washing over me.
11. Because I want to go to church.

Related: Desiring God As the Ultimate Source of Pleasure

Get More Out of Church! Resources for Teens

Feel like your church isn’t doing it for you? Read my post When Church Doesn’t Feel Exciting.

What about asking someone to church? Check out How to Invite Someone to Church—Without Being Weird and When You’re Too Embarrassed to Invite Friends to Church.

Getting ready to leave home and do the whole adult thing? Welcome to Adulthood! Time to Take Responsibility For Your Faith.