So How Important is the Church Anyway?

The title to this post seems to be the attitude of many people today. Church, is it really important. I mean, the preacher is loud, he ask for money every service, not to mention it cuts in on "my" time.
But what does the Bible say about Church. Although it says a lot I want to just use one verse from Matthew chapter 16:18. Jesus said, "upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
A few points I want to make here. First of all, the Church is not the structures we build with our hands. The Church is the people called out of the World into the Kingdom of God. The most striking thing about the verse we are sharing is what Jesus said about this Church. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Having grown up on a farm, I understand something about gates. Gates are doorways into fenced in areas.
I believe there are areas of darkness created by Satan that holds many people in bondage just like a prison. Addictions, sexual perversions, sicknesses and diseases and even religious bondage. The sad truth is Satan controls these gates. He takes many people into this prison daily and never desires to release them.
Here's the good news. Jesus said the Church I'm building will have the authority to prevail against the gates of hell. The Church is called to be on the offense against the workings of the enemy.
So do we need the Church. Is the Church really that important. Let me just say that the Church has the keys to unlock any gate or door Satan has tried to lock people behind.
So thank God for every Church and every Pastor and leader that is unashamed to be all that God has called us to be.


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