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Dr. Joseph O'Femi Adeosun

I met a man once in Europe who tried to convince me that going to church was unnecessary to him because he had always lived a righteous and sinless life. He went further to tell me how unimportant it is to assemble with some people all in the name of God. If he needed God, he would just stay in a place by himself alone and call on God, and God had always answered him, he asserted. But one day I found that this man with all his "righteousness" was caught in an unspeakable mess. However, this is not to say that going to church will make one live a mess-free life. Oh no! Some church folks still make a terrible mess.

Jesus said to His disciples, "Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables" (Mk. 4:11). Our Lord was making a point known to the Apostles: the mystery of God's kingdom is only for those that are in the kingdom. There is no responsible government or nation who will deal with any person who has no regard for her authority. Jesus made the statement only when the disciples came to ask him about a parable which he gave when a great multitude gathered unto him (Mk. 4:1-10). God knew why coming together was important when He said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" (Gen. 1:26). The next verse says, "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them" (Gen. 1:27). That means the image of God is the image of the others, too.

Then, "God blessed them..." (Vs. 28). That means the others blessed them, too. Furthermore, "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb..." (Vss. 29-30). The rights given by God were endorsed by the others in HIS Supreme Council. "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good" (Vs. 31). It shows that if you can satisfy one of them, the others are satisfied as well. It is a must that we be in the assembly or gathering (a.k.a. church) of fellow believers to enjoy the stuffs from above together. The word of God says so. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Heb. 10:25).

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles" doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:41-42).

Now tell me, if you can pray alone, read the Bible alone and live a righteous life, can you break the bread (holy communion) alone? It is impossible when you do not go to church. Apostle Paul said, "I therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation where with ye are called" (Eph. 4:1). There is no worthiness without living a Biblical standard and not our own standard! "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Eph. 4:2). That is to say, even if one had been hurt by some folks in the church, it is not enough to be a church all to oneself. Read on:

"Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all; who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things). And, he gave some, apostles, and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ:" (Eph. 4:3-12).

Listen, if you happen to be one of the aforementioned and you choose to confine that gift to your room, sharing it with no church, you will be blamed much by the giver, Jesus Christ. You must belong to a local church!

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"

"From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Eph. 4:13-16).

Contact Information:
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