Why do we as Christians gather?

This is not a trick question

Often, Christians speaking of gathering on Sunday will say they are “going to Church.” Most don’t realize that this is inaccurate terminology, and it can easily lead believers astray from the true purpose of gathering. You might at this point be scratching your head wondering what kind of demon has gotten into me. No, I am not possessed, and though some may think what I am about to explain is a matter of semantics - I assure you, it is not.

Let’s start with with a question: what is “the Church”? The Church, or a Church, is not a place - it’s people. The word “Church” is translated from the Greek word εκκλεσία (ecclesia), which is a compound of the preposition εκ (ek), meaning “out of,” and the verb καλεώ (kaleo), meaning “to call.” So literally, the word means, “those who are called out,” referring to the body of Christ. There are different expressions of the body of Christ - the local body, usually relatively small gatherings, and the catholic body, composed of all believers (I did that on purpose just to raise some eyebrows - the word catholic simply means “universal” - it does not imply anything about the Roman Catholic church). In Scripture, the epistles are addressed to “the church in <insert city name>” - this means, to the Christians residing in <insert city name>. You’re probably asking yourself, “what is the point of this language lesson?” The point is we are the Church! Church isn’t somewhere you go. It’s not something you do. It’s not a building where you meet. It’s not a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation. It is who we are, together. More proper terminology than “we are going to church,” would be, “we are going to gather with the church.”

There is importance in understanding that we are the Church, the body of Christ, and understanding this simple distinction in verbiage. Recognizing that we are gathering as the body of Christ should alter your perception of the idea of inviting the unsaved to the congregation. In his recounting of the early church for us, Luke writes:

At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. - Acts 5:12,13

Imagine, though non-believers held the believers “in high esteem,” non-believers would not “dare” join them in their meetings. I address this first, not because it is of primary importance, because the rest of what follows reinforces the idea. What should be our priority is recognizing who we are and the purpose for our gatherings.

Fellowship

We gather for Christian fellowship. What is fellowship? Fellowship is sharing in “mutual interest, spiritual and temporal” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary). We share in duties both to God and to one another. We share a spiritual bond. When we gather, these things should play out in how we socialize and interact. Unbelievers have no part in this. Even Scripture declares:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? - 2 Cor. 6:14

There is no fellowship between believers and unbelievers.

Spiritual Gifts

Another aspect of our meetings is the exercise of spiritual gifts. The Bible tells us that spiritual gifts are given to each believer, according to His will, for the edification of the body:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. - 1 Cor. 12:4-7,11

The only way to exercise our spiritual gifts “for the common good,” for mutual edification, is to be present with one another. Granted, that won’t always take place in the greater gathering and may happen in smaller groups outside the congregation, but we are to exercise our gifts for the common good when we come together. Teachers cannot exercise their gift of teaching without the presence of other believers. One with the gift of hospitality cannot show that hospitality without others around. These gifts are a large part of what join us together as a unified body. As with fellowship, it is impossible for unbelievers to be part of this, as they do not have the Holy Spirit, and thus do not have spiritual gifts.

Breaking Bread

In the early gatherings of the Church, meals were often shared - so much so, that they needed people to wait tables in the larger gatherings, and the elders appointed deacons. In some congregations today, meals are shared after services as well. Besides these fellowship meals, Christians also share in the Lord’s table receiving the “body” and “blood” of Christ. Clearly unbelievers have no business taking communion nor would anyone expect such a person to want to. Even a regular fellowship meal, however, is inappropriate for unbelievers:

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. - 1 Cor. 10:21

While this is really more an admonition for Christians to not participate in pagan practices, the converse applies as well - unbelievers cannot share in the table of Christ.

Praise Through Song

When we gather, it is regular practice to sing songs to one another and to the Lord. Scripture admonishes us that we should “speak[ing] to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). Our songs should have substance, as do the Psalms. They should educate as well as edify. They should be focused on God and theology. We should sing songs of praise to the Lord:

For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.” - Heb. 2:11-12 (emphasis mine)

Our hearts and minds should be focused on Him while we sing, and our singing (no matter how bad) should be to His glory. It’s not a concert; the music leader(s) should not be “performing” for us. The entire congregation should be engaged.

This again is something in which unbelievers cannot, or at the very least would not want to, participate. After all, if they do not believe in God, to what end would they want to sing His praises?

Prayer

When we come together, we pray as a community. We know there is power in prayer, whether individual or congregational, and we know that power is because of the One to whom those prayers are made. Our faith is in God, and He has promised that when we pray according to His will, He hears us (Jn. 5:14-15). We are exhorted frequently in Scripture to pray, and even to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17). The point is, our prayers lay at God’s feet our praise and worship, our confessions, our thanksgiving, and our petitions. In what part of this would an unbeliever partake? Would someone who does not believe in God pray to God?

Worship

In Scripture, the words translated “worship” in both the Old and New Testaments literally mean “to bow down.” Whenever someone is said to “worship” in Scripture, the Word usually speaks of that person falling prostrate on the ground, often in fear. This is an act of subservience, reverence, obeisance, awe, and recognition that God is sovereign. He is greater than all, and as such, all honor, glory, and power belong to Him. Whether we bow physically (and at times, we rightly should), or do so in our hearts, this is something we owe Him. Though many today conflate “worship” and “music”, they are not the same - they are distinct, and Scripture (to my limited knowledge) never equates the two (if someone can show me Scripture that clearly speaks of music as worship, I will change my view). Until Jesus returns, when all will bow (Rom. 14:11), this is something in which unbelievers would certainly take no interest.

Preaching of the Word

Finally, and no less importantly, is the teaching of God’s word. Jesus, before He ascended, commanded Peter directly (and thus indirectly to all pastors) to feed and tend His sheep (Jn. 21:15-17). Such responsibility requires God’s word, as it is spiritual food and it provides guidance. Paul admonished Timothy likewise, “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (1 Tim. 4:1-2). Preaching, rebuking, reproving (discipline) are all necessary for the spiritual growth of the Church. Discipline, unfortunately, tends to be lacking these days, because “churches” worry about losing members to the building down the street. To them, “church growth” is about proliferating posteriors in pews rather than discipling believers to walk more closely with the Lord, to preach the gospel and share their faith, and to disciple others. Just as with the other aspects of what our services should be, there is nothing in this for an unbeliever.

Wrapping Up

While with each section, I’ve pointed out how an unbeliever has no part in this, and I firmly believe that it is unscriptural to invite unbelievers to join in our services, I recognize, as did Paul, that there is a possibility an unbeliever might find himself or herself in the midst of the congregation. It is even more important, then, as Paul enjoined the Corinthians, that we be doing as we should when we gather (1 Cor. 14:23-25).

I also realize that I likely have not covered every purpose for our coming together. My intent was not to cover every little detail - that is why God gave us His Word. One point you should take away from this is that words matter. My prayer is that reading through this will encourage you to search the Scriptures for yourself and see if what I say is true (the Bereans did this to Paul, and I am far inferior). This is written to inspire thought about how our meetings can better serve the Lord and His body. Recognize that our meetings are not intended to be as spectator sports - they should be participatory. I am convinced that our “services” as they are today bear little, if any, resemblance to gatherings of the early Church. Every part of the body has a purpose, and each must function properly and do its part if the body is to remain healthy. Most of all, if we are to serve Him as He has called us to do, our gatherings should build us up for that purpose.