 | The Reverend Amy Baumgartner is the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 525 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS. Amy was ordained at First Presbyterian Church of Wichita, Kansas in June 2008. She earned a Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary. Before attending seminary, Amy graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture and worked several years for an architectural firm in Indianapolis, Indiana. You may contact Rev. Baumgartner by email AssociatePastor@firstpresbywichita.org, or by phone at (316) 263-0248. |
Religion
2011-12-27 09:23:49
Do you have to go to church to be saved?
Q: My brother says that one does not have to go to church and tithe to be saved. He says as long as you live a good life, believe in God, and treat your neighbor right, you will be okay. I say there’s a lot more to it than this. Who is right?
A: On the surface, I would agree with your brother that church attendance does not “save” a person, yet gathering and worshipping with a community of believers is a gift of God and can be vital to one’s spiritual health. In the early chapters of the Bible, God determined that it was not good for the first man to be alone. God created us for community. The writer of the book of Hebrews encourages the community of faith, and to give up the habit of meeting together. A colleague of mine would often illustrate the importance of gathering together as a church by comparing cut flowers to a plant. Once you cut flowers to put in a vase, they are initially beautiful; however, their life will fade quickly. A plant that maintains connection to soil through a root system will have a continual life source. Those who gather with other believers are likened to the planted plant. There are benefits to being part of a worshipping community.
I am intrigued by your brother’s phrase, “you will be okay” if you live a good life, believe in God and treat neighbors right. I am not sure if your brother’s “okay” is now or in a forever (afterlife) perspective. There is more possibility in this life than to live with heaven as the goal. God desires to be known by us, to be in relationship with us now. This is what abundant life is all about. While your brother may just want to be “okay” I would encourage him to consider that he could be missing out on abundant life by focusing on what he does (living a good life and following the golden rule) instead of seeking to know and be known by God.
I would also challenge your brother to what living a “good” life is all about. Jesus said that only God is good. It is difficult to truly do “good” without knowing the good that God wants from us. Good is not based on societal norms but based on God’s perspective alone. To truly do “good” involves surrendering to how we think we should live our lives. It involves surrendering to the desire to make ourselves look perfect. Surrendering means throwing ourselves on the mercy and righteousness of God through Jesus Christ. It involves the constant choice to pursue God and God’s ways.
As for your last statement of who is right, I would encourage you to less seek to prove that you are correct and with your brother seek instead to not just believe in God but to pursue God—to know God. It is a lifelong pursuit to encounter the living and majestic God, but it also has great rewards.
