It's that time of year when sports journalists and commentators are looking at college football teams and sizing up their chances at making the playoffs and becoming national champions.
Several teams are emerging as early favorites.
I’ve heard writers say, “Right now I’m all in on Georgia this year.” Or “I’m all in on Alabama.“ Others are looking to Ohio State or perhaps Michigan to win it all.
When someone says “I’m all in,” it means they believe in that team and are jumping on the bandwagon.
Thom Rainer recently wrote an article wherein he gave several reasons why we ought to be “all in” at church (www.gospelcoalition.com).
Here are the ones that really spoke to me.
(1) IT'S BIBLICAL
Search the New Testament and you will find that there is no such thing as a faithful disciple of Christ who did not also have a relationship with a local church. God wants us to be a part of a local church and serve under the eldership of that church.
In Hebrews 13:17 we read:
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
The writer of Hebrews just assumes that the Christians to whom he wrote would be part of a local church.
I believe this is still God’s expectation for us as believers.
(2) IT PROVIDES ACCOUNTABILITY
Look at Acts 2:42 and the picture of life in the early church which it provides:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
The early church was a church that knew one another, spent time with one another, broke bread together and worshipped together.
If someone failed to show up for worship, I have a strong feeling they didn’t wait months and later ask themselves, “What do you suppose ever happened to so-and-so?” They reached out right then. Because they were a family.
If your kids didn’t show up for dinner, wouldn’t you wonder where they are?
Many Sundays we gather around the Lord’s table and it never crosses our minds to ask why some are not there.
Galatians 6:1 teaches us that we are to look after one another.
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you also be tempted.”
Of course, we cannot do that if we’re not part of a church family or an active part of that family.
(3) IT’S NECESSARY TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION
In Mark 16:15 Jesus gives us the “Great Commission”. He challenges us to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
He then established the church so that we would have the means to carry out this command.
In Ephesians 4:11-12 we read:
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, {12} to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
When a church works together it can have a powerful impact upon its community “as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).
However, this assumes that the people within that church are not only present but have a willingness to serve.
There are many places in this nation where sin reigns and it is not because our God isn’t strong enough to counter this sin, but rather because the church(es) to which He has entrusted this work are so weak.
If we are to strengthen our nation, we must strengthen our churches. And strong churches are made up of strong individual Christians.
God has promised:
“If My people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
What a promise! We need to go “all in” on the church so that this promise will be realized.
It might be that you’ve had a bad experience with a church or the leadership of a church in the past. It happens. No church is perfect because each one is comprised of human beings and there has only ever been one human being who was perfect: JESUS (Hebrews 4:15)!
I believe that the negative things we might experience are exceptions to the rule. While I myself have had some negative experiences in churches, I can tell you for a fact that they were few and far between. On the other hand, I have been blessed again and again — beyond measure! — by my association with God’s people.
Let’s not be afraid to go “all in” on the church. No church is perfect and neither are you. But God will bless our work for Him and heal our land if we roll up our sleeves and get busy.
I’m all in!