Need for Fellowship

As a person who tends to remain at one church for extended periods, I often wonder about the metrics people use to determine which church is ideal for them.  At the onset I am unsure if an ideal church actually exists since all individual members (including the seeker) are in various stages of maturity and growth.  And if we ask the question, "What is the best or ideal church for me?" if "me" is the central or primary point of emphasis clearly my ideals are skewed.  There are both practical and spiritual aspects to consider.  Is the meeting place reasonably close to my home?  Are the doctrines taught biblically sound?  What I find most concerning is though there are many Christians denominations and groups of all kinds, some can't seem to feel comfortable or fit anywhere and thus are not engaged in regular fellowship with other believers.  Maybe comfort isn't the best metric to use.

Over the years I've heard things I didn't expect, like:  "I could never go to a church where the pastor is younger than me" and "I'm only here for the air conditioning."  Upon hearing these things I probably just stood there like a stunned mullet, not exactly knowing what to say.  It's sad when we approach church as consumers, as customers who enter into an arrangement of goods and services rather than a gracious contributor.  It's also a tragedy when we use worldly gauges to determine the quality of a church, like how many people attend, how "dynamic" the worship team or preacher is, the comfort of the seats, or how active the church is in mission work.  Church is more than a building, amenities, or programs, but a group of people who love God and one another.  Hebrews 10:23-25 is an exhortation fit for the family of God:  "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

The Christian walk is much more than showing up to meetings with other believers, but it is impossible for us to be in fellowship with one another unless we are with one another.  It's impossible on your own to obey the "one another" commands Jesus gave!  We are to consider others as more important than ourselves, knowing and believing through us God intends to reveal His love to regulars and visitors alike - and God has things He will use others to reveal to us.  A lot of people who are not signed up for a particular role during a service might feel obliged to miss church gatherings, yet I am convinced when this is a chronic practice it is to the detriment of all.  This mindset seems focused on self rather than considering the needs of others, since God has chosen us for one another.  Our exhortations to stir up love and good works are without force if we are rarely present and model these virtues ourselves.

Since each of us are part of the church, the Body of Christ, we are to walk in the love of God through obedience to Him.  Jesus won't leave or forsake us because His is faithful, and our faithfulness in fellowship is the outflow of faith in Him demonstrated through obedience.  In the end, meeting up for church gatherings to celebrate and worship God is not about you or your comfort:  it is about God!  It is misguided to use church attendance as a gauge of the spiritual health of others or ourselves, but that we love one another as Jesus loves us.  To obey is better than sacrifice, and fellowship will cost us.  The cost of drifting without regular fellowship with believers, however, is far more costly.  We need fellowship, and others need us - whether we preach from a pulpit, greet people at the door, or pray.