Is Church Attendance That Important for a Christian?

May 2nd, 2025

Ever found yourself asking, “Do I really need to go to church?” This heartfelt blog, written by Marc Glander, dives into real struggles and gentle reminders about why staying connected to the Body of Christ matters more than we sometimes realize.

In America, Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, is the busiest church day of the year. Both believers and non-believers gather in church to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. For believers, it’s a time for introspection, reflection, thanksgiving, and celebration of God resurrecting His only begotten Son, Jesus, granting victory over death and sin. For non-believers, Easter may be more about the celebration of spring, new life, and family traditions. While church attendance the week after Easter is typically higher than average, driven by the compelling reality of Jesus’ Resurrection, it dwindles back to “normal” soon after Easter has passed.

It’s somewhat expected for non-believers to stop attending church until next Easter. But what about those Christians who only show up on Easter?

Why Some Christians Skip Church

There are several reasons believers might offer to explain their absence from church. Some Christians lead very busy lives, face work-related challenges, or encounter transportation issues. For my family, it was a painful experience with church hurt. My wife and I took a two-year break from church following a particularly challenging church split.

When Church Is Family

Years ago, my family helped start a church from the ground up. My now-wife and I reconnected by serving together on the worship team. Our church was more than a place to worship, it was where we grew up―physically, emotionally, and spiritually―attending every time the doors opened until they closed. We spent five years there (from ages 18 to 23), transforming large empty rooms into a sanctuary with a worship platform and sound booth. We became teachers to a group of tweens (10-12-year-olds) who were too old for children’s church but also too young for the youth group. For the most part, our lives revolved around serving and being a part of this church. We loved every moment God gave us the opportunity to be in the church, worshiping Him, fellowshiping with His people (the body of Christ), and living out our calling.

Without delving too deeply into why the church split, it indeed did. People are fallible, things happen, we forgive, and we love through the power of the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t always easy for me to say those words, however. For a long time, I harbored a bitter resentment towards those who had caused the division of the church I so dearly cherished attending, which had become one of the most essential places for my character development. In this resentment, I lost all motivation to attend any church or place of worship filled with people. I believed that I could sufficiently fulfill my spiritual needs independently while relying on some friends and mentors in areas where I felt it was needed.

Can You Be a Committed, Obedient Christian Without Church?

Often, these friends and mentors advised me that attending church is paramount to regain a right standing with God. They reminded me that being a Christian is not just about fellowship with Christ, but with His whole body, the Church. As Christians, we are called to forgive others and to be in community with fellow believers. Scripture says much about why community matters:

“Love one another” (1 John 4:12)
“Encourage one another daily” (Hebrews 3:13)
“Serve one another in love” (Galatians 5:13)
“Instruct one another” (Romans 15:14)
“Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10)
“Be kind and compassionate to one another” (Ephesians 4:32)

We aren’t meant to walk this faith journey alone. We are the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)—and that means every part matters.

The Body Needs All Its Parts

A brilliant scholar by the name of Dr. Juan Valdes once offered a powerful illustration: He says something along the lines of,

“How can a body be complete without all its parts? If you are the hand and are isolated from the body, will you still function? You can’t consider yourself to be a part of the body unless you’re with the body.”

Though I had dealt with a massive church split that wrecked my world, I had let the hurt keep me from my purpose. I had forgotten my reason for being there in the first place: I was there to serve and worship Jesus.

Jesus Is Worth It

Jesus doesn’t cause division―people do. But Jesus also forgives far worse. He gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2) and promises eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 6:47). Jesus is worthy of any sacrifice we need to make, whether it’s our pride, busy schedules, comfort, or even past pain.

Coming back to church wasn’t easy. But it was necessary, not because church attendance saves us, but rather it places us where we can grow, serve, love, and belong.

A Final Thought

If you've been hurt by the church, I get it. But don’t let the pain of the past keep you from the healing of community. Jesus didn’t give up on His Church—and neither should we.

Maybe today is the day to come back—not just to a building, but to the Body.

Author Bio:
Marc Glander, the Co-Director of Reasons for Hope's EQUIP Retreat, has been walking with the Lord since the age of 15. He, and his beautiful wife, Alyssa Glander, live in Georgia and are the proud parents of their one-year-old little girl, Genesis.

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