This question is increasingly being asked. By 'church' I do not of course mean a building. I mean why bother to gather with God's people?
When people become real Christians they are very soon aware that true worship is not primarily to do with Sundays or outward ritual. The essence of true worship is heart delight and satisfaction in God which is expressed in praise, thanksgiving and obedience to him in all of life. If worship is really a matter of the heart, why not just simply pursue the worship of God on your own? Pressurised people, hassled by the demands of their jobs, long for peace and quiet at the weekends. Church and meeting other people can seem less than inviting - hence the question.
Actually, regular corporate services of worship are meant to be normative for Christians. We ought to gather in the local church. There are a number of arguments to substantiate this claim.
The re-emergence of heavy shepherds
What would you think if you received a letter from your church leaders that read like this? ‘Are church members …