5:17 church

Why do you come to church?  Why should you come to church?

I have to confess that my mindset is often on what I want to get out of church. I want to honour God, to know Him better so that I can worship Him more. But try as I might, I can’t find much biblical support for a “church is all about just me and God” mindset. Yes, church is me connecting with God, but it’s not just me and God. Last night as I met with the other two elders of 5:17 church (Winston and Steve T), we got thinking about church as not just a group of individuals who just happen to meet together, but individuals who are inextricably linked together. That discussion made me think, and then turn to the Scriptures where there is such an abundance of Bible passages which talk about focussing on other people. The following is not the comprehensive list of one anothers in the New Testament, but it gives us a fair understanding of what our mindset should be when we think of our church or our weekly community groups:

1. Love one another with brotherly affection (Romans 12:10)
2. Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
3. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God (Romans 15:7)
4. Greet one another with a holy kiss (Romans 16:16)
5. There may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another (Romans 12:25)
6. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace (2 Corinthians 13:11)
7. Through love serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
8. Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2)
9. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32)
10. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
11. Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
12. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Hebrews 3:13)
13. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near(Hebrews 10:24-25)
14. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed (James 5:16)
15. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart (1 Peter 1:22)
16. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)
17. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9)
18. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace (1 Peter 4:10)
19. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)
20. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another (1 John 4:11)

It’s quite an overwhelming list isn’t it? Because God is so big on our interpersonal relationsips, lets work on the way we relate to each other at church and community groups. And if you are ever in two minds about whether or not you should come to church or community group, please have another read of the above Bible passages – we need each other. We were made for community.

Church isn’t all about you or me, but (under God) it’s all about us!