His Plan

One of the saddest trends in Christianity today is the growing belief that you can thrive as a follower of Jesus while remaining disconnected from a local church.

Some have been hurt by churches. Others have watched a few people act in ways that were anything but Christlike. Those wounds are real, and they shouldn’t be dismissed.

But the failures of a few believers should never cause us to reject God’s design for His people.

Last night, I experienced a beautiful reminder of why.

During our adult Bible study, I shared a personal burden that has been weighing heavily on my heart. It wasn’t a problem within our church. It was a family situation that has challenged me as a husband, father, and leader. I admitted that I have been wrestling with the tension between wanting to protect the people I love and wanting to respond in a way that reflects the Gospel. If I’m honest, there are moments when my flesh wants my will more than God’s.

The lesson stopped.

Without hesitation, my church family gathered around me. They laid their hands on me. They prayed over me. They encouraged me. They asked God to strengthen me and give me wisdom. For a few moments, I wasn’t carrying that burden by myself anymore.

It was one of those moments where Scripture came alive before my eyes.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

That is the beauty of the local church.

The church isn’t just a building where we attend services. It is a family where we walk through life together. It is where we celebrate victories together, cry together, pray together, correct one another in love, encourage one another, and remind each other of the hope we have in Christ.

Could I worship God by myself? Of course.

But I cannot live out the “one another” commands of Scripture by myself.

God never intended for His children to walk alone.

To my Rocky Valley family, thank you. Thank you for reminding me that pastors need the church too. Thank you for loving your pastor enough to stop everything and pray over him. Last night was a beautiful picture of the body of Christ functioning exactly as God designed.

If you’ve stepped away from church because someone hurt you, I truly am sorry. People will fail us. Churches are made up of imperfect sinners who are still being sanctified.

But don’t allow the failures of people to rob you of one of God’s greatest gifts.

Find a Bible-believing local church that faithfully preaches God’s Word, loves people well, and seeks to glorify Christ. Get involved. Build relationships. Serve alongside other believers. Allow them to encourage you, and be willing to encourage them in return.

You were never meant to carry life’s burdens alone.

The local church isn’t God’s backup plan.

It is His plan.

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together… but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” — Hebrews 10:24-25