"Why Church?": Week 1--Community and Fellowship

“Why Church?”: Week 1—Community and Fellowship

By: Courtney Brewer

Hello Ridgecrest! My name is Courtney Brewer, and I am one of the interns working with rbcstudents this semester. In this blog, my goal for the next five weeks is to answer the commonly asked question, “Why is it important to attend church regularly?” To the outside world, it seems ridiculous to believe that going to church regularly is beneficial. To some, it appears that Christians are trying to earn their way into good standing with God. But what if there’s more? What if the real reason the Lord designed the church was to meet our needs, deepen our faith, and to surpass our expectations? I believe that there’s more to church than just showing up in nice clothes, singin’ a song, shaking some hands and racing out of the parking lot to beat everyone to Applebees. In the next few weeks, I hope you will come to hunger for more than that as well. Here’s a little of my story and why I chose church.

I think one of the factors that hinders many Christians’ desire to attend church regularly is that it has become the thing that eats our Sunday morning. I remember sitting in church when I was very young, squirming in my dress, pulling the bow off my head, and just waiting until I could get home and run. When God took my family out of Springfield in ’08 to Cairo, Egypt, I thought my world had crashed. Why in the world would I choose church when I was struggling with anger toward God? I attended with my family because, what else did I have to do in a new country? Out of that youth group, my entire view of Christianity changed. A small group at my church was doing a study on community. This was a foreign concept to me. I mean, I know believers are supposed to be united in Christ and we’re supposed to love our neighbors, but what if the church was really supposed to be more?

Acts 2:42-47 And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

God created his people to have a need for fellowship and the ability to take care of one another in Community. If we had a community resembling that of the early believers, I don’t think we would have near as many people asking “why church?” This idea of community is a foreign and beautiful concept. “The Lord added to their number day by day” because who wouldn’t want to be a part of that kind of loving and accepting community? This is what we were created for. To be “little Christs." To give our shirt off our backs if our brother needs it. What would it look like at Ridgecrest Baptist Church if we tried to live out the community of the early believers? Who wouldn’t want to fellowship with the people who desire to take care of them? I challenge you all to step up and live in community with one another and to try and rediscover what made you go to church in the first place.

Q. “Why Church?”

A. We are designed as social creatures who need fellowship. We need to be known. Also, living in a harsh world that does not know the Lord, it is our responsibility to live like Christ and welcome all who feel like outsiders into our loving community of believers.