Many people fail to appreciate the importance of the local church assembly. Some don’t associate with churches or attend church services because they simply have no interest in religion. Some are religious, but have had bad experiences with certain churches. Others have adopted an anti-organized-religion policy, and believe that salvation can be acquired apart from any church.
The Bible student knows however, that “church” must be important, for the church was established by Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:18,19). Christ shed His blood for that church (Acts 20:28). We are told that the church was God’s eternal purpose and that God is glorified in the church (Ephesians 3:11,21). To say that the church is unimportant is to say that Christ is unimportant, for the church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22,23). These passages refer to the church in its universal sense, but what about local churches? Are they any less important? Can we be saved apart from a local church? Some say yes, but what does the Bible say?
Some wish to believe that they can be saved in the universal church without affiliating with any local church. They reduce salvation to a mere personal feeling and believe there is no necessary connection with other saints in any capacity. While such folks may rightly understand the difference between the universal church and the local church, they obviously fail to understand the connection between the two. To be added to the universal church one must receive God’s word and obey its instructions (Acts 2:38,41,47; 5:14). But these instructions do not end with faith, repentance and baptism – we are required to do other things, some of which involve interaction with fellow saints. The Bible teaches that it is sinful to “forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25,26). Christians are commanded to commemorate Christ’s death by the observance of the Lord’s Supper. This is to be done upon the first day of the week (Acts 20:7), and it is to be done together (1 Cor. 11:20,33).Giving is also to be done upon the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1,2). The members of the early Jerusalem church studied, shared, ate the Lord’s Supper and prayed together (Acts 2:42). Paul instructed saints to sing together (Ephesians 5:19). The New Testament shows us that local churches were established throughout the known world, and they were the organizations through which God worked. It was upon his seeing the local church at Antioch that Barnabas “saw the grace of God” (Acts 11:22,23). Let us not underestimate the role of the local church.
Tim Haile