Do you see "going to church" as a menial task? Typically it is viewed as such, I think, for one of a few reasons among professing believers in God.
1. Probably the primary reason is because we do not see ourselves as in need of instruction--we got this thing all on our own, thanks.
2. We do not see how we are supposed to contribute to the instruction of others--who am I to judge another person anyways?
3. A person doesn't see church as a place of instruction and correction at all, but rather, as a less fun party house. A place to organize potlucks, parties, and to make friends. If this you, then you may already feel you have this pretty well covered on your weekends with your buddies at the country club, at the local bar, or back home at the man-cave, so who needs church? Worse, if you do show up and find out you're a sinner, that seems terribly unfriendly.
All three are lies. Are there other reasons? I'm sure, but these I think are the big three.
Proverbs 27:17
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
For this to make any sense, you must see yourself as a sinner. You must realize your need for holy sharpening. Not just abstractly a sinner, but a sinner indeed. If you don't, then this will be lost on you. You need to see your great need for a Great Savior. You may have already stopped reading this because of one of the already mentioned reasons above are true for you. If you don't see yourself as a sinner--personally depraved, with intentional and willful acts of aggression against God's holy commands--then you will not see any real need for Christian fellowship. You make good enough decisions. You are reasonable, and collected. You sin a little but not much and know that your sins fall within the context of God's love you have created in your own image, so you'll be fine. It's not like you are murdering people. Maybe then you should go to church (those people definitely should get to church, and have some people pray for them probably). Not you, though. You can take care of the checks and balances all on your own; and God's good with your little amount of sin. Of course with God's distant and benevolent oversight, you'll be fine. Such thinking has a very weak and very wrong view of all sin in light of the holiness, and righteousness of God.
James 1:13 -- Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
You and I sin, and ultimately it is God's forbearance in allowing us to do so that should lead us to fellowship of constant reconciliation. We don't often come to this conclusion on our own, or even from God alone, but through others who God uses. Not the kind of holy and reverent kind of change that sets the bar high on God, anyways. Perhaps while neglecting fellowship in the body, we do see kinds of topical type from a bar set low on man's ideals. However, it's this constant flow of reconciliation within the church that we need to truly grow as we are constantly learning, being challenged and corrected. All of this should make us more grateful for His mercy and wisdom as we are being restored to the mind of Christ. We who were once (many times) reconciled become the one who gets to help reconcile another, and visa-verse. This special gift is found among the fellowship of believers, and unless you are making yourself a tangible part of it by joining in, then you'll have no part of it. You might just be a vessel for dishonor.
2 Timothy 2:20-21
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
Just to be clear, I am not saying we go to church so that we can sin, in order to contribute and benefit from this restoration and sanctification, I'm saying we go to church because we are already sinning and it is within the church God has designed, where we truly begin to sin less in ways that count for eternity. Chiefly our understanding and presentation of the Gospel, and be fit for every good work, to have real impact in the eternal lives of others. That work and that salvation should matter a lot to us.
James 5:19-20 -- My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Do you need church? Well, of course you do. It's not really a matter of whether or not you need it, but whether or not you see and accept it. If by God's grace you are not in a season of excelling in sin (so we may think), then humbly consider your position and calling to restore the one who is. Realize you probably have some ill-conceived ideas about what church is supposed to be. Recognize that this reconciliation doesn't sincerely happen on the shifting sands of philosophical volleyball, bouncing ideas around about the rights and wrongs of life over a pint of self-affirmation brews and atta-boys at the local pub. It happens where those who stand on the Firm Foundation seek the truth, within the church.
Psalm 42:1-4
As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food
day and night,
while they say to me all the day long,
“Where is your God?”
These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival
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