An Answer to Common Questions

John 14:15
    
    Before I became a gospel preacher, I used to get asked constantly, “Why do you go to church so much?” “Why do you go to church 4 times a week?” “Why do you feel like you have to be there every time the doors are open?” “Why do you spend your free nights going to gospel meetings in other towns?” It is a very simple response, “I love Jesus.” In this postmodern, have it your way, stand for nothing fall for everything world that we now live in, the concept of going to worship, bible class, or extra meetings out of love for Jesus is honestly lost. You are more likely to hear someone say, “I love Jesus, but I don’t love church people.” “I love Jesus, but I don’t like religion.” Here is a fact! It is impossible to love Jesus, and not love the church. If you believe you can and that you are practicing that, then you are lying to yourself and the people around you. Let’s look at the evidence for what the church is. The church is the body of Christ, “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23). “He is the head of the body, the church” (Col. 1:18). “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23, emp. added). And if you have obeyed the truth (Eph. 5:9), been baptized to wash away your sins (Acts 22:16; Acts 2:38), then the Lord added you to the body, the church (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 12:12-13). How can someone claim to love Jesus, but hate His body? How can someone claim to love Jesus, but be at best ambivalent about the church? How can you honestly love Jesus, but not love that which He shed His blood for (Acts 20:28)? It doesn’t come from the scriptures and it is logically inconsistent. Even before I became a gospel preacher, I was at bible class, worship, and extra meetings as much as humanly possible. Why? Because I love Jesus, therefore I love His people. There is nothing in this world more important than gathering together with God’s people and learning from His word (Acts 2:46-47; 2 Peter 1:19-21). My encouragement to you, is don’t let anyone or anything stop you from coming together with the saints as much as possible. I love you all!


In His service,
Steven Hugley