Two-thousand years later, the church founded by Jesus and the Apostles is still alive and it’s still relevant. Indispensable from Christianity is the need to be a part of this church, this community of fellow believers. There are these popular messages of hating religion but loving Jesus, which is all fine and dandy except this concept seems to make some people believe that they can throw out the church when they throw out a devotion to a “religion.” While we should never get caught up in only going through the rituals and having no relationship, the so-called “religious” elements are there for a reason. The truth is this: You cannot be a Christian apart from the church, which is the body of Christ.
The Scriptures are ripe with references to the church as a body. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). We see this theme throughout 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:4-5 and Colossians 1:18-24. To continue with the body metaphor, an arm separate from the body doesn’t bring a lot of benefit to the body nor to the world. If you separate yourself from Christian fellowship, you can’t influence the world for Christ in best possible way because you are not adequately connected to Christ. Since it’s Christ that brings life to the body, attachment to the body also brings us His life.
I’ve known tons and tons of Christians in my life. I’d venture to say a solid majority of my public high school would call themselves Christians and I’d expect much the same for schools around America. If all were right with the world, you’d expect a school dominated by Christians to not be the faith-crushing, troublesome time it so often can be. Most people eventually come to realize that just because someone believes in God, that doesn’t mean they will act in a way Christ would desire. James tells us “even the demons believe” (James 2:19). All are called to go beyond loose association with the name of Christ; we are called to be members of Christ’s community and to reflect God’s will for humanity. If you really believe in God, exist in a community should occur because of that commitment.
Photo by BadSoull 
From the beginning, being a Christian meant being a part of the followers of Christ. The death of your leader generally discourages a religion from flourishing, much less continuing—but with Christianity (or The Way, as they were called at first), the Messiah didn’t stay dead. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul talks in length about how Jesus beat death, was resurrected, and then he showed himself to over 500 people. From that point on, this community took off flying. I believe it survived for two reasons: 1) it was founded in the miraculous event of the Resurrection and 2) is was specially designed to be compelling to join.
Stirred by Peter’s sermon and call to “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38), the church developed unlike any institution prior. In Acts 2:42-47, the Scripture gives us a general glimpse into the purpose of the church:
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
That’s what we are supposed to be a part of! Sure, many churches aren’t fulfilling this mission (and maybe we need to think of some creative but Biblically-accurate modern parallels to these principals), but that doesn’t mean we should pretend we can go on the Christian journey alone. Partially, it’s because joining the community isn’t just about us. When you walk into Sunday worship, the last thought on your mind should be “What can I get out of this?” A Sunday service, or any intentional Christian gathering, is about what you can offer to God (understanding that you can’t “earn” your salvation) and also what you can offer to our brothers and sisters in the faith. And when we need it the most, the church is there to answer our questions, comfort us during trials, and help us when we are in need—but it starts with you being those things to others.
Church is about showing each other sibling love, which in the time period meant very affectionate, loyal love. In Romans 12:9-10, Paul mentions the marks of a true Christian. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” It is in this community that we are adopted into. That’s the call. During my childhood, my family went through a difficult phase where my dad had lost his job and my mom was just making enough for us to get by. Things were tight, though certainly things could have been worse. Nevertheless, without evening asking for anything, gift cards to Walmart appears in our box at church. People were taking us out to lunch Sunday. Someone left us a big box of powdered milk—a box I believe we never used and is still in our cupboard to this day. I am incredibly lucky to have grown up in a church that continued Christ’s ministry like the church in Acts.
The church is bigger than us. We are only one sliver—though an important sliver! We each contribute our own talents and gifts to the church, but we are not greater than the church. The church gets its authority from God and its effectiveness from the gathering of believers. When the congregation practices radical love and sharing with each other, it truly becomes a reflection of God. That’s why the church was built.
