BY GREG CRUM

“I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.” Psalm 35:18

Would you like to know the best way to give the devil a pounding headache? Praise God by giving Him thanks in front of as many people as possible! Would you like to know one of the best places to accomplish this task? Your favorite house of worship—your church!

Last week we wrote about our warning from God to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together for worship and spiritual growth, especially as the day for the Lord’s coming for us draws near. That warning from Hebrews 10:25 was given almost 2,000 years ago, but is even more applicable now than it was then.

For many years, believers of our generation have been looking for and giving excuses to lay out of church—everything from it’s just an institution of man to I can worship and learn from God just as well from home. What’s more, easy access to preaching, teaching, and Gospel singing via technology has worked to compound the issue. What should be a tool to reach the lost has most often become a pacifier of the conscience to the believer that would rather not congregate on a regular basis. It’s a sad state of affairs that has left the Church weaker than it could be.

Now, to this some would say, “What’s the big deal? We can still get to Heaven without ever stepping foot inside a church, right?” Sure, that is the case; you can most definitely get “born again” without being inside a church building. Many have, and many will in the future I’m sure, but evidently in spite of this fact, God still mandated that believers assemble together as we’ve noted. So, there must be a great reason for that, right? There is! Church done right is one of our greatest earthly blessings. It is important—important to God, and important for us in our service to Him and our spiritual growth.

Church, the weekly times together, even the physical buildings where we congregate are special. Why? Because, if done as God guides, they are times together and places set aside to worship God Almighty! Church gives us a time and a place to worship God together, something God desires from us, and something necessary for our hearts to get and stay full. It’s time and a place to worship God collectively, and to fulfill our reasonable service to a good God in this regard.

“But can’t I do that just as well by myself, in my home, in my car?”

You can worship God in a variety of ways, in various places, and we should take every opportunity to do that, but church provides us an opportunity to worship God in a special way. A way you can’t accomplish by yourself. It gives us a chance to worship, to adore, to brag on, and lift up God right in front of others. Not in a way that draws attention to ourselves mind you, but in a way that others can see how He has moved in our life, and consequently, can move in their life as well.

“Churching” gives us the opportunity to step into the shoes of the Psalmist of old and fulfill Psalm 22:22-27, Psalm 35:18, Psalm 40:8-10, Psalm 107:31-32, Psalm 111:1, and Psalm 149:1-4 and praise and thank the Lord in the middle of the congregation of fellow followers of Christ! The end result of praise like this? Hebrews 10:24. We are able to encourage each other “unto love and to good works.”

Friends, church is more important than we’ve been led to believe. The strongest “Church” (the grand collective of all the believers in Jesus on the planet) is made up of individuals who come together to “church,” as well as have personal times with God. Church is special. It’s sanctified and holy and times to honor God.

Brothers and sisters, let’s enjoy church, one of God’s intended blessings for us in this life, and let’s make best use of these opportunities at church to magnify the Lord before others for our mutual growth and encouragement.

Greg Crum is the pastor of Calvary Temple in Lovely.