The Importance of Connection
My husband and I have been consistent members of “online” church since the beginning of the pandemic. I came home March of 2020 and haven’t left yet. Since then, we’ve added another tiny human, so it was just safer for me to be home with them. It is now 2022 and we have yet to find a church home, but we are praying and seeking one now.
After graduating from undergraduate at Mississippi State University and moving closer to my hometown, to attend graduate school, it was a little difficult for me to find a church home because of the church home I was still a part of. I was attending a church regularly and driving back to Starkville once a month but never felt lead to choose a church home for myself. While in Starkville, I was receiving great teaching from the Word of God, I had a church family who treated me as if I were a part of each of their actual families, and I was just growing spiritually. Coming back home, was scary. It is terrifying to go from being spiritually fed, learning about the God of the bible, and not the one our society or culture has made up, understanding how to apply what you’re learning to everyday life, to not. I had to learn fast, that everyone that calls on God’s name and say they’re His servant, really aren’t. I had a pretty good example of what stewardship, service, leadership, and connection looks like based on God’s word.
Romans 12:4-5 tells me that if I am not a functioning, serving member of a local church, then I am living outside of the will of God. What he gave me to give to the body (others), the way I can give it, he put only in me. Not being a functioning, serving member of a local church is neglecting another person from getting what they need. And that’s the same for you if you haven’t found your church home just yet.
Here are some benefits to having a church home
1. You learn God’s perspective on every matter so you can obey Him, experience spiritual growth, and have an impact for His kingdom. This is about the God of the bible.
2. Share the life of Christ with-in the family of God. Disconnection is disobedience and unfruitfulness. Disobedience is an invitation for the enemy, and we know how the devil can have a field day with disobedience. Obedience is better than sacrifice.
3. Learn to worship God and build your prayer life. You want to invite God in your life daily. Worship is setting the atmosphere.
4. Being saved helps others. Making disciples is about living out your life in front of others. When you’re doing it right, God will add to it.
I encouraged you to seek to be a part of and connected to a vibrant, biblically based, loving church to help you be steered away from disobedience and having to experience divine consequences. It is not all butterflies and flowers to be a real Christian in a Hell bound world, and you’re gonna need some encouragement. Not being a member of a church limits God’s work in your life.
xoxo