2 Cents

I'm a Youth Minster doing much of my work with teenagers so as you can imagine, I get this question a lot.

Today I want to address... what does the Bible have to say about a Christian's responsibility to attend church?

Now, before we dive right in there are some things we need to mention.

First, it is possible to be a Christian while not attending church services if you are unable to attend them.  We have a few elderly men and women in our church who physically cannot make it out of their home.  They can still follow Christ and glorify God in their situation.  Their salvation is most certainly not in jeopardy.

Second, there are also those in foreign countries who cannot attend church because there are no churches where they live.  Perhaps their country has made Christianity illegal and therefore no churches have been started or maintained anywhere close to them.  Nevertheless, that person can still follow Christ by reading God's word personally, praying, seeking to affect those around him for Christ, etc.

So there are extreme situations where yes, it is possible to be a Christian and not attend church services.

But every time I'm asked this question, it comes from someone in a situation where they simply don't want to attend church services.  They have every opportunity but church is boring to them or they don't want to wake up on a Sunday morning or get out of the house on a Wednesday night.

So here's what the Bible says.

First, it is very clear we are given a command to meet together as Christians.

Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  - Hebrews 10:24-25

It's also very clear that the Christians in the New Testament made church gatherings a priority in their lives.  And we are to follow their example.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  - Acts 2:42

On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.  - Acts 20:7

The Bible is also very clear that you can't be a Christian alone, which is often the heart behind some of these type of questions.  You need others to help you.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  - James 5:16

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  - 1 Peter 4:10

They eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.  - 1 Corinthians 12:21, 27

Another reason is how the authors in the New Testament just assume church is an integral part of the lives of the people they are writing to.

First, many of the letters of the New Testament are addressed to local churches (i.e. - Philippians, Colossians, Galatians, Corinthians, Romans, etc.)

Second, the language in these books assumes the readers are involved in a local church.

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight.  - 1 Peter 5:1-2

Remember your leaders, those who spike to you the word of God.  Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.  - Hebrews 13:7

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor.  - 1 Timothy 5:17

Finally, here's a pretty good reason to go to church regularly... Jesus did.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.  And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day.  - Luke 4:16

So in conclusion the Bible is very clear.  If we're able to regularly be a part of a local church God expects us to.