Why do we go to Church?

We go in search of relief, and to hear we are forgiven. Failure brought us to salvation and failure continues to wear away at the soul if we believe that the way to get close to God is by bringing our best efforts to the table. We need to hear that there is another way.

Instead, our defeat is reinforced when the trending religious culture teaches us that fellowship with our Heavenly Father is based on our ability to lead a righteous life. Christians are being told that fellowship is broken when sin (bad behavior) gets the best of them. Then, they are instructed that fellowship can be restored by way of confession, allowing them to “get right with God”. They must reduce their “sin account” to an acceptable level. They are “encouraged” to increase their witnessing efforts, church attendance, “quiet time” with the Lord, and righteous works in general. These strong unbiblical claims may not come directly from the pulpit, but are “in the air” of many church halls, and are often prevalent in the mouths of leadership.

How offensive it is that ones who are supposed to be shepherding the flock – giving them food and rest, are instead cultivating angst and uncertainty for the saints of Christ. God’s people can be made to feel that their place at the King’s table changes quickly, depending on the day, the hour, or the moment. Like a game of musical chairs, one’s place can be removed in a flash. They are left walking around with no seat until the next game begins, giving them another chance to win…and rest. The catch phrase “falling out of fellowship” is taught in a way that clouds our perception of our true resting place, prepared for us, at the blessed table of our Lord.

The Christian Walk presented in these churches and Bible Studies is a counterfeit walk. It doesn’t work. The psychological ramifications of this “treadmill lifestyle” can cripple the minds and hearts of many. Some grow tired, some give up.

There is a better way -the only way.

Fellowship, as defined by the Bible, has a more solid foundation than our intermittent devotion.

Romans 10:4 tell us that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe. The whole of scripture teaches us that we can fellowship with our Lord on the basis of our union with Christ; union is the foundation for communion. We are “brought near by the blood of Christ”. (Ephesians 2:13) We have been placed in Christ, where there is no sin. We have been placed “within the veil” and are joined together with the Son. The discovery and enjoyment of our fellowship with Christ happens when we understand our union with Christ.

The whole of the New Testament proclaims that we have been united with Christ, that is plain enough. What gives us a sense of the relational aspect to this truth is learning about the nature of that union. It is not merely transactional. We must get that right.

God’s people – the church – are ever so lovingly referred to as the “Bride of Christ” in scripture. This is the union. How can we comprehend this? We are gifted all throughout God’s Word with shadows, pictures, and types to reveal what is. We will not be able to grasp this fully until we see Him face to face…and that is ok. But we are given a glimpse.

Starting in Genesis, we see the first type and shadow – the human marriage of Adam and Eve. “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24) Paul continues this marriage theme in Ephesians, referring back to Genesis 2. “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and His bride.” (Ephesians 5:31,32) Revelation puts a glorious end cap, so to speak, to the ongoing “wedding day story” in chapter 19, verse 7, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” From beginning to end the central theme of the word of God has always been about marriage. The divine purpose of the cross – “the greatest story ever told” – was for the bridegroom to rescue His bride and bring her to Himself.

We are also adorned with assuring proclamations as to how Christ views and loves His bride. Our dual nature causes us to say, “I am dark but lovely”. All the time, our Lord and King, is saying, “How altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you.” He proclaims that we are “glorious within; our clothing is interwoven with gold.” He proclaims where our place is and what kind of atmosphere this place is under. He has brought us to His banquet hall, and His banner is love. (Song of Songs 2:4)

We are also shown how we are to view our King. “And he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend.” (Song of Solomon 5:16) Oh if we could confidently move our lips to say, “Scarcely had I left them when I found him whom my soul loves; I held on to him and would not let him go.” (Song of Solomon 3:4)

No need to blush over this language. We know that the anti-type – the actual relationship we have with Jesus Christ – is more excellent than the type. We are not waiting for the kind of consummation that takes place on the wedding day of a human marriage. The consummation we have awaiting for us is greater. The Lord is communicating the love he has for us in the only way we can understand.

It is this union we have with Christ that permits God, the Father, to look on us with gladness and loving acceptance. He is looking on us in Christ. He is pleased when looking upon the union of Christ and His church. We are never to go to God directly, apart from Christ. Christ makes way for full-on, unlimited access to our God in Heaven.

Christ is beautiful because of His gracious willingness to share all that He is with us. He is attractive. We should get comfortable gazing on His beauty. And we are called to believe that He is attracted to us. The highest form of obedience is to believe what God says about Himself and His Son. God says, “Look at my beautiful Son. He is enough.” We are to respond with, “Yes Lord. I believe you.” Know, reckon, yield.

Sometimes, Christians can, and do, turn away from His face in guilt and shame, because we still have this problem – the problem of sin. It is when we come to understand that ongoing sin has zero effect on our union with Christ that we are not robbed of our continual enjoyment of Him.

The Christian is not bound to a phony, defeating game of musical chairs. It is no game at all. The Christian life is one of bold and confident living, knowing that nothing changes our relationship to Christ. We are exhorted to strive and persevere; but this is not contrary to grace, freedom, and rest. We are to be diligent in searching the scriptures, seeing Christ and God’s glory on every page, and always living by faith. “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

Run to the place where fellowship is limitless. By faith, confidently sit in the most honored place at the King’s table. The queen, the bride of Christ, communes with her Lord, residing in the most coveted seat, right next to the King…not ten seats away.

May the Spirit make these truths real in your life.

-Joy Montoya

Supporting verses:

2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1:3-6, Ephesians 2:13-19, Ephesians 3:11, 1 Corinthians 1:9, Galatians 2:16-21, Galatians 3:25-28, Galatians 4:6, Galatians 5:1, Colossians 1:13, Colossians 3:1-4, Hebrews 8:6, Hebrews 10:20-25, Hebrews 10: 35-39, Philippians 3:8-10, John 17:20-23, Romans 4:1-5, Romans 6:17-18, Romans 7:4, Romans 8:1-17, Isaiah 61:10, Isaiah 62:5, Isaiah 54:4-8, Psalm 45, Song of Solomon, Mathew 9:15, Revelation 19:7-9, Revelation 21:2

For Further reading:

The Naked Gospel by Andrew Farley

The Freedom of a Christian by Martin Luther

Love (III) by George Herbert

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