Faith and Fellowship: The Inseparable Connection
Your faith is precious to God—more precious than gold according to 1 Peter 1:7. But how do we know if our faith is genuine or merely an imitation? Just as we can easily spot fake products like "KFG" instead of KFC or "Sunbucks" instead of Starbucks, we need to be able to identify when our faith isn't the real deal.
Is Your Faith Genuine or an Imitation?
The Bible encourages us in 2 Corinthians 13:5 to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves." This self-examination is crucial because many people today fall into what author Craig Groeschel calls "Christian atheism"—believing in God but living as if He doesn't exist.
Genuine faith isn't just a fuzzy, generic belief with no consequences. It's not saying "I believe in God" while living however you want. True faith is like a wedding ring—it represents a real commitment that affects every area of your life, every day.
Why Do People Disconnect from Church?
One of the clearest indicators of imitation faith is a person's relationship with the church. Faith and fellowship go hand in hand, yet many Christians today attend church just once a month. Here are four common reasons people disconnect:
1. "I Don't Have Time for Church"
Many claim they're too busy for church. They work hard all week and want Sunday to rest or enjoy other activities. But consider this: a football game has only 17 minutes of actual action, yet we'll dedicate 3-7 hours to watching it. What has football done for you lately? Has it made you a better person, spouse, or parent?
In contrast, church encourages you to live with real faith, helps you find your purpose, challenges you to develop character, and motivates you to make a difference in the world. It's not about not having enough time—we all have the same amount. It's about making "the best use of your time" as Ephesians 5:16 instructs.
2. "Church Is Boring"
Some people avoid church because they find it boring or irrelevant. But the early church described in Acts 2:42-47 was anything but boring. The believers were devoted to teaching, fellowship, sharing meals, and prayer. There was a sense of awe, and lives were being changed daily.
If you merely sit in church occasionally without devotion or connection, you might indeed become bored. But when you fully devote yourself to being part of a church family living on mission with God, it becomes the most exciting venture of your life.
3. "The Church Just Wants My Money"
While some have unfortunately used the church to line their own pockets, this isn't true of genuine churches. Jesus isn't after your money—He's after your heart. God doesn't want something from you; He wants something for you.
Yes, churches will ask you to give—not just money, but time, service, prayers, kindness, and compassion. This is because Jesus is worth it, and living generously brings life, joy, and impact. As 2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us, "God loves a person who gives cheerfully."
4. "I Don't Want to Be Beaten Down"
Some avoid church because they fear being made to feel guilty or worthless. But in Christ's church, God doesn't want to beat you down—He wants to lift you up. He wants you to know you're precious enough that He gave His Son for you.
Church is like bowling bumpers—it helps keep you centered when you start to veer off track. Hebrews 10:25 encourages us not to "neglect our church meetings" but to "encourage and warn each other."
Understanding What the Church Really Is
To deepen your understanding of the church and strengthen your faith, remember these three truths:
The Church Is the Body of Christ
The church isn't a building or a service—it's God's people. Romans 12:5 says, "We are many parts of one body, and we belong to each other." Just as a severed hand is useless, a Christian disconnected from the body of Christ cannot function as intended.
The Church Is the Family of God
Ephesians 2:19 tells us we "are members of God's very own family" and "belong in God's household with every other Christian." For a Christian to say, "I don't need the church" is like a child saying, "I don't need my family." We need our spiritual family for support, encouragement, and care.
The Church Is the Hope of the World
In a world full of frustrated, angry, lonely people desperately seeking help, the church is the only place ordained by God to bring lasting hope. Like a church that became a rescue center after a devastating tornado, with emergency workers directing people to "go to the cross" for safety, the church today continues to point people to the cross of Christ where they can find forgiveness, eternal life, and hope.
Life Application
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, "On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it." This is what Jesus is doing in the world today—working through His body, His family, to build His church.
Ask yourself these questions this week:
Is my faith genuine, or am I living as a "Christian atheist"?
Do I truly love the church as Jesus does?
Am I fully devoted to being part of Christ's body, or am I disconnected?
How can I invest more of my time, resources, and gifts into my church family?
This week, make a commitment to strengthen your connection to your church family. Don't be content with occasional attendance—dive in with your hands and feet as part of Christ's body. Don't live an isolated, disconnected life—embrace your place in God's family. Join with your church in bringing hope to your community.
Remember, faith and fellowship go hand in hand. You'll never regret going all in with real faith and being an active part of Christ's church.
