Though the local church is a community of Christians and exists primarily for the benefit of Christians, it is also a community that gladly welcomes as guests those who are not yet believers. Many churches rightly put a lot of effort into inviting friends, neighbors, and family members to this place where they can hear the gospel preached and see Christian community in action.
Yet we often face this challenge, this tragedy: Even as we put effort into calling sinners to come into Christ’s kingdom, we have to put equal effort into calling the saved to come out to church. As one wag has said, “It takes ninety gallons of water to baptize a Christian and only nine drops of rain to keep him at home!” Or in the words of another, “It is often said that it is difficult to get the sinners in—but it is often just as difficult to get the saints out.”
The Bible warns against “neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some,” but instead advocates corporately “encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:25). Each of us has needs that can be filled only by other believers, and each of us has gifts that are meant to serve other believers. It is our joy and our duty to exercise them each and every week.
