It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. What a profound truth! A realization that eases the grip of life on man – surrendering to God in all things. Partake in this feast as we consume food for the soul, nourishing the spirit in Breaking Bread. It is Monday, 12th February 2023.
Why is it important for believers to meet together in a corporate gathering?
When most people hear the word church, they think of any building where believers gather. According to the Bible, a church is much more than just a building. We must remember that it is not really about the building but about the people. The field of study in theology that seeks to understand all aspects of church is called ecclesiology. It is derived from the Greek word ecclesia which refers to a gathering or assembly.
We must understand that the church is a body of believers united in Christ. Our role is to worship God, reach out to the suffering world with the saving message of the gospel. The word ecclesia is used in the New Testament of the Bible to identify the community of believers in Jesus Christ. Today the church is what God stated: the house of God, the pillar and foundation of the truth, Gods temple, His body regardless of the circumstances that it faces.
We must know that when we neglect the church, we are missing out on evangelism. One of the main ways the world can see and know Christ is through the love of Church members for one another (Read John 13:34-35).
Let us stop with all our human excuses of why we do not need the church. It is possible that you have been truly hurt by a local church. This may take a long road of healing, but it is worth it. Read the Bible not to find answers to your problems or questions but with the desire to know the Lord more deeply. We must just pray and ask God to reveal the next steps to us.
Here are a few reasons why we should join a local church:
- We need regular support and encouragement of Christian fellowship: Our lives as Christians are not designed to be lived in isolation. Those who try it that way is likely to crash (read Hebrews 10:25).
- Fellowships provided by Christian friends is not a substitute for belonging to a church: We cannot choose our friends because their ideas and styles are similar to ours. God put different people in a congregation so they can learn from each other (read Titus 2:1-10).
- God’s basic unit is the church not the individual.
- We will never understand the New Testament properly unless you belong to a church: If we read the Bible privately, then we will not be in the right place to hear God’s word. We will “privatise’’ the message and misunderstand it.
- Maturity in faith and knowledge is only found in the church: Maturity and fullness of faith is a corporate experience of the christian community (read Ephesians 3:14-21 and 4:13-16).
We need the church even though it is not perfect. All of the churches in the New Testament had their problems- even the ones that Paul planted. We should focus on portraying Christ and Christianity faithfully and the world will take notice.
PRAYER
Thank You Lord that we listen to Your call to be integral parts of Your body. We know that our job is not to look for a church that fits our ideal perspective but to be part of a community who serves You as our Redeemer and King. Amen.
ALSO READ: Breaking Bread: Finding a new BEGINNING with God
Wat verstaan ons onder die woord kerk? Die woord kerk moet eerstens vir ons n geloofsbegrip wees. Die Kerk is nie net die plek of ruimte waarbinne ons geloof uitgeleef word nie. Nee, die kerk is ons geloof.
Ons moet onthou dat wanneer ons van die kerk praat, ons ook terselfdertyd van Jesus Chtistus praat. Die kerk is in meer as een opsig die gestalte van Jesus Christus in hierdie wereld.Wanneer ons dus na die kerk kyk dan kyk ons in dieselfde oomblik na Jesus Christus.
Wanneer ons deel word van die kerk, het God ons eerstens daarheen geroep. Daarom is die kerk n gemeenskap, n samekoms, van gelowiges. Ons is die kerk. Ons lidmaatskap word deur God bepaal en nie deur my eie keuse of my reg om deel daarvan te wees nie. Nee, lidmaatskap tot die kerk is n voorreg beklee deur genade.
Dit is nie ons wat gekies het om deel van die kerk te wees nie. Nee, God het ons uitverkies om deel van Sy liggaam te wees hier op aarde. Ons moet dus ook versigtig wees om uitsprake te maak oor die kerk en oor mense in die kerk. Wanneer ons sulke uitsprake maak, maak ons dit ook teenoor Jesus want die kerk is die liggaam van Christus in hierdie wereld.
Ten slotte moet ons ook verstaan dat die kerk is ewig. Die kerk sal nie ophou om te bestaan nie, want God kan nie ophou om te bestaan nie.Geen daad sal ooit die voortbestaan van die kerk kan bedreig nie, want vir God is daar geen bedreiging nie.
GEBED
Dankie Hemelse Vader dat U ons verlosser en Skepper is.Dankie dat U ons deelgemaak het van U liggaam, die kerk. Help ons om getrou die boodskap van die evangelie te verkondig want slegs dan bly U kerk betekenisvol en relevant. Amen.
