When I became a real Christian, aged 15, it was instilled on me the importance of getting involved in a local church. One illustration, indelibly etched on my mind is that of a coal in a fire. Remove it from the fire and it ceases to burn. Almost sixty years on, I want to reflect on what going and belonging (or not) to a church entails (or at least ought to) and some of the observations I have made during that time concerning my own and other’s church attendance.

Those who particularly influenced me as a fifteen-year-old were members of the Plymouth Brethren, with their emphasis on sound doctrine. While not insistent that I should go to their church, they counselled it should be one that was doctrinally sound (which ruled out most) and this went beyond merely attending church services to getting involved. While they tended to be against the ecumenical movement, it would be unfair to say that they were cult like, as several were involved in inter- and non-denominational initiatives, albeit those that were more inclined to adopt evangelical beliefs.  

The PBs were keen to distinguish Church (with a capital ‘C’) from church (with a small ‘c’) and preferred to use the term “assembly” to describe their church, “church” being a term that they associated with buildings and organisations. They saw “Church” as an entity to which all true Christians, irrespective of denominational and other affiliations, belonged, whereas the assembly (Greek “ekklesia” often translated as “church”) represented congregations of believers who come together for the purpose of worship of and service to the Lord.

I have gone to many churches over my sixty years, usually those of the more evangelical ilk, and have belonged (e.g. by being a member) to a few, particularly among the Plymouth Brethren (PB) and, for these past 12 years among the Strict Baptists (SB). I am glad that for most of that time I have belonged to only two churches, as I often have found “church hopping” to have negative connotations. I have had good and bad experiences and often in the case of “the bad” it has been the cause for me to move on. I have seen this happening in numerous other cases. Sometimes, it has been for doctrinal reasons and often it has been because of unresolved personality clashes. Sometimes, those who left did so because the fire was on the way to going out, although increasingly I am coming across those who leave due to disillusionment and similar reasons, while still keen to follow Jesus and maintain a Christian witness.

I confess, when I look around me at what goes on in other churches or among Christians, not belonging to my own family of churches, especially at the deception pushed by many of its leaders, it is with consternation, although not wanting to dismiss genuine attempts to love thy neighbour and include “the other”. The fundamental questions include why go/belong to a church and, if so, which one, and is being part of the Church enough? I am grateful to my wife’s words of wisdom about why go in the first place – to remember that we do so to worship the Lord, irrespective of our likes and dislikes. And because churches invariably do more than hold services, we belong to show commitment to and solidarity with their mission.

The “which one” question can be tricky though – when our PB church closed 12 years ago, there were 100 other churches in our town/city that we could have gone to, but very soon our short list was down to two and the SBs, which we felt was right for us, won out. For some, where to go presents a conundrum, and I don’t wish to give pious platitudes. The one maybe I can give is that one way or another, often helped by modern technology, one ought to somehow associate with and be accountable to other Christians, mindful that the wiles of the Devil often amount to turning us away from God. As for being part of The Church (if a true believer), that is paramount, but it may not be enough, e.g. the teaching of the Church compared to a body with different parts means it is important that we find our place. Even so, while I cannot do much about other churches, I can still pray for and encourage such folk, now finding I’m doing so.

Which brings me to the Lord’s prayer (that I prefer to call the Disciple’s prayer) and the real Lord’s prayer. “Our Father which art in heaven” is the opening phrase of the Disciple’s Prayer, found in Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV) and Luke 11:2-4 (KJV) and is a model for believers, teaching them how to pray and commune with God. “That they may be one, that the world may know” is a phrase from Jesus’ High Priestly (real Lord’s) Prayer in John 17:21-23 (NKJV), where he prays for unity among believers, saying, “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

This should be the heart’s desire of all true believers, despite how we view other churches and the part we play. The Great Commission was a pivotal instruction given by Jesus to His disciples in Matthew 28:16-20 (NKJV): “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Along with being the radiant bride Jesus seeks that is ready to meet Him, the bridegroom, when He returns to earth, obeying His command, living in His presence, must be our priority.