Why I hold on, despite sometimes feeling like giving up

I’m not talking about Church, as in the Body of Christ, the believers whom Jesus Christ died to save. I love the Church because I LOVE Jesus, and talking to a Brother or Sister about Christ ranks in my top 3 list of things to do.

I am talking about the four walls, called church, where the Body gathers to worship Jesus. Well, it’s not the walls. Specifically, my problems lie with the leadership, doctrine, and atmosphere inside the walls.

Our experiences over the years:

• We walk in and out, week after week, and only the hired help speaks to us.
• A church strays into the “best life now” Word of Faith movement.
• The pastor is either ill-prepared or uses the pulpit to rant petty grievances.
• Churches, in general, are adopting a more liberal theology, and almost ZERO talks about End Times.

With that said, I’ve had a great experience in church and with a few wonderful pastors, and I refuse to give up on it.

Why I Refuse To Quit Church (Little ‘c’)

1 — Fellowship Protects You

1 John calls us into fellowship with God and other believers.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7, ESV)

We’re a perfect target for the Enemy when we’re isolated and not getting together with other believers. We’re like a lost sheep that’s easy prey for stalking wolves. You don’t need a “traditional” church, although many pastors will use Hebrews 10: 24–25 to convince you otherwise.

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, ESV)

You can fellowship in home churches around your coffee table, an idea that one pastor we know mocked. But you need more than you, your spouse, and YouTube.

Attending a church offers a convenient avenue to connect with other believers. Even though my wife and I left the church we joined almost three decades ago, we still cherish the lifelong friendships made during our time there. These sweet people stood by our side with unwavering support, offering heartfelt prayers, and witnessing an extraordinary miracle that unfolded in our lives. That event underscored the significance of having a network of Christian friends to support you.

The Bible has many “one another” or “each other” verses that confirm God’s plan for Believers to fellowship:

…wash one another’s feet. (John 13:14, ESV)

…love one another… (John 13:34, ESV)

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love… (Romans 12:10, NASB)

…honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10, NIV)

Live in harmony with one another…(Romans 12:16, NIV)

…instruct one another. (Romans 15:14, NIV)

…have equal concern for each other. (I Corinthians 12:25, NIV)

…serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13, NIV)

Carry each other’s burdens… (Galatians 6:2, NIV)

…confess your sins to one another… (James 5:16, ESV)

…pray for one another. (James 5:16, ESV)

And about 50 more verses like these strongly indicate that God wants believers to do life together. The four walls of the church offer a convenient time and place for these “other” things to happen that build relationships and protect you.

2 — Worship Encourages You

We should worship all week and not wait until Sunday mornings, but it’s pretty remarkable joining the saints with their hands lifted, praising the Everlasting God. Seeing people’s sincere and heartfelt devotion to the Lord is inspiring, especially in a culture that is becoming dark and depraved.

Worshipping together is a reminder that God is still Light, He remains on the Throne, and He’s still moving in the hearts of people who seek Him.

O magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together. (Psalm 34:3, ESV)

3 — Service Sanctifies You

The church provides a place for believers to serve each other and the community. Real growth happens when we take the focus off ourselves and adopt the mind of Christ.

One of my Christian growth spurts happened when I devoted 20+ hours a week to serving a church in various capacities — elder, small group leader, worship service team leader, and host. This small church had many gaps, and I wanted to fill them all, although I was ill-equipped for some.

Serving others makes us more like Christ, deepening our relationship with Him and growing our faith. The local church provides this regular opportunity for service and growth. The church also sends out and supports missions at home and abroad, fulfilling the Great Commission. My 18-year-old son is leaving next month for his church’s senior class foreign mission trip.

4 — Discipleship Expands You

Discipleship is like worship. We can’t wholly rely on Sunday morning church services for our learning. We should pray, study, and read our Bibles daily. People fall victim to cults when they give 100% credence to the men in the pulpits. Jesus warned us of false prophets.

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. (Matthew 7:15, NIV)

You can’t recognize a lie unless you know the TRUTH.

With that said, a solid, Bible-teaching church is a fantastic place to learn and expand your knowledge of the faith. Messages from the pulpit, Sunday school classes, and small group home studies are occasions for discipleship. Do them all and remain vigilant in your personal time with God.

5 — Empathy Humbles You

The church is a place of broken people from all walks of life, each with their own problems and struggles. Church gets us outside ourselves, allowing us to see life from different angles. If we’re walking in the light, becoming more like Jesus, our exposure to other people’s lives should humble us and make us more empathetic.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15, ESV)

The world needs a lot more empathetic humans.

Wrapping It Up

In conclusion, while I acknowledge the challenges and frustrations I’ve encountered within the church walls, I remain steadfast in my decision not to quit. The importance of fellowship, the inspiration found in worship, the transformative power of service, the opportunities for discipleship, and the humbling effect of empathy are all reasons that keep me engaged in church life.

I believe in the church’s potential to create meaningful connections, foster spiritual growth, and impact the world with love and compassion. Despite its flaws, I choose to stay committed and continue seeking a church community where I can grow in my faith and contribute to the well-being of others.

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