Following Jesus Involves Committing to a Local Church

I meet lots of people who tell me they are Christians but are not interested in the church.  I want to make the point that following Jesus involves committing to a local church.  There are lots of ways this point could be made, but I will focus on just one simple flow of thought here.

First, Jesus once asked a helpful question, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you?"*  This is a good question.  If Jesus is lord (a fundamental confession for the Christian) then we are his subjects, we are to worship him and do what he says.  This is not a burden, it is our joy.

By his Spirit, Jesus tells us "to 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."**  Jesus is lord, and he tells us not to neglect meeting together with God's people.  How can we say we are following him if we unrepentantly ignore this command?

Some consider themselves to have done this because they have believing family members or friends that they spend time with.  But by his Spirit, Jesus also tells us, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an account.  Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."*** 

If we are Christians, then we confess Jesus as lord.  If we confess him as lord, we are to do the things he says.  He says not to neglect meeting together with God's people, to stir each other up to love and to encourage each other.  He also says to submit to and obey leaders who watch over your soul.  These leaders are pastors of churches.  Which ones are you submitting to?  Is it clear to them?






*Luke 6:46 
**Hebrews 10:24-25
***Hebrews 13:17