Articles

The Importance of the Church in A Young Christian's Growth

By Rose Adusei, London Ontario

David said in Psalms 27: 4- 5 " One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the BEAUTY OF THE LORD, and To ENQUIRE IN HIS TEMPLE.. For in the time of trouble HE SHALL HIDE ME IN HIS PAVILION: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall SET ME UP UPON A ROCK.

The Church is a very important aspect in any Christian's life, regardless of age. It plays an even more important role in the lives of young Christians as they grow.

Psalm 122 says, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." We should not let unnecessary things get in the way of our attending church daily. No matter how busy your schedule is, things like games on T.V, parties, friends and the opposite sex should not keep us from fellowshiping with  others and worshiping our Lord. I am not saying that we should party all week and go to church only on Sundays, but we should also avail ourselves to church at home...for the church is not the temple but the people in it. The bible says where two or three are gathered in His name. He is there (Matthew 18:20), this means that you can call your little brothers and/or sisters together at home to form your own church in which you glorify your Lord.

Joshua said: "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:15), and even Jesus himself as a young man questioned, saying: "Did you not know you would find me in my father's house?" (Luke 2:49). Here, Jesus was showing us that the temple of God or the church is where we children of God should grow. We as young Christians should be able to train ourselves the way we should grow, and to do this, we should attend church to enable our minds to grow spiritually. Hebrews 10:25 says "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching"

Our parents do their jobs daily, telling us to attend church and showing us the way we grow (Proverbs 22:6). It is our duty to put these teachings into action, and to establish a stable ground with God. It is our duty to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), in doing so we will be able to stand up against the devil's evil ways and tricks which prevent us from doing God’s will, and worshipping him.

This is the time that we must realize that we need spiritual growth of mind. We must also realize that we need God Almighty and the church. Youth, stand up and claim your ground as a people whose faith can be firmly rooted through the teachings of the church that the Lord Almighty God has given us.

God has always been there for us even when we did not recognize Him as God. He is always with us through trials and temptations. How long is it going to take you to recognize that you are not on earth because you wanted to, but by God’s grace.

Having the Lord as your protector is the best security you can ever have. Just stop and take a minute to thank him. Commit your ways into his hand, and you’ll see the difference it makes.