What a question! What a topic! While I realize that my answers are sure to ruffle some feathers out there, my hope is that Christians will soar to new heights of spiritual understanding concerning the local church. My answer – (drum roll, please) – yes, and no.
Attending a church service does not make someone a Christian. In fact, churches today are full of non-Christians. It is very possible, even likely, that many Christians first placed their faith in Jesus outside of a “church service.” It is the word of God that brings about faith (Rom. 10:17), and it is faith (in the redeeming work of Jesus) that brings about salvation. Wherever the true gospel is proclaimed, whether in a building on Sunday morning or at a ball game, if a person responds in repentance and faith, salvation is the result.
It is also true that church attendance does not aid in, or add to, one’s justification (God’s declaration of a sinner as righteous because of the work of Jesus). The apostle Paul argues this clearly in Romans and Galatians. Justification is through faith alone. Biblically speaking, salvation is by grace, through faith alone – not as a result of works (Eph. 2:8-9).
On the other hand, although you don’t have to go to church to become a Christian, I do believe that genuine Christians will be active in the fellowship of a local church. While the universal church consists of all Christians, at all times, in all places, the local church is the definite expression of the universal church.
First, the New Testament simply assumes fellowship in the local church. The book of Acts documents the growth of the early church. Notice how the local congregations interacted: worshiping, preaching, teaching, sharing, praying, evangelizing, baptizing, disciplining, and planting new churches. Take, for instance, the examples of baptism and church discipline. Baptism, as an ordinance of the local church, precedes church membership. How can an abstract concept (the universal church) administer baptism? Church discipline – also a biblical command – can only be administered within the context of a local church. All the exhortations, warnings, admonishments, and commands are given to and for the church.
Second, Jesus’ command to love one another (John 13:34-35) makes the most sense in the context of the local church. How can we show our love for one another if we consistently refuse to fellowship with one another? In his first epistle, the apostle John devotes much attention to the topic of Christian love. In the context of interpersonal relationships he writes: “Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth” (3:18). He is bold enough to say that if there is no love, there is no salvation (3:17). The apostle Peter links conversion, sanctification and love, as he writes: “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again – .” Can anyone say that they have a sincere love for the brethren if they consistently refuse the fellowship of the believers?