Imagine you are walking to class one day and you come across an arm lying on the sidewalk. Not a body, just a lone, solitary limb. You would be horrified, and rightly so. Even if the arm was not deformed and had every appearance of strength, you would be shocked because it was not connected to a body. I have to imagine that God often feels the same way when he looks at us.
Christians are meant to be in community, both with God and with each other. The Bible is filled with practical rules for how to live out our relationships. Sometimes these commands are called the “one another” commands (“forgive one another,” “bear with each other,” “be patient with one another,” etc.). These “one another” commands cannot be fulfilled apart from community.
Christian community is an essential means for persevering in the faith. As the book of Hebrews says, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (10:24-25). God has ordained church as a means for keeping the faith until the end.
The local church is this means, and a dorm Bible study is no replacement for the church. The New Testament model makes it clear that this is to be an intergenerational fellowship. The second chapter of Titus, among other New Testament references, shows this by including instructions to young men, older men, young women, and older women.
In other words, we need both babies and old people. It is not natural to only worship God with people in the same stage of life as you. Rather, we benefit from the wisdom of those who have served God for longer than we have.
But it goes both ways — the people in the local church need us, too.
This is God’s great wisdom in designing the church to be a body. It is a vital organism, and the eye has no right to deny the necessity of the hand. Every part is essential, and that includes college students. This is what Ephesians 4 teaches us — God has given leaders in the church for the sake of equipping Christians to do the work of the ministry themselves.
The whole body grows as we speak the word of God to each other. Every Christian, including college students, has a responsibility to the local church that they cannot delegate to others. The church needs our quirks, interests, passions, and the gifts that God has given us.
With this in mind, we ought to find a church while at Hillsdale. Not a “perfect” church, but a church that faithfully preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ. A church whose leaders and members display a commitment to living out corporate growth.
And once we find a good church, we need to show up. By showing up, I do not mean coming to Sunday morning service and leaving right when it ends, treating church involvement as a spectator sport. Instead, we should stick around and get to know people. Show up at Sunday evening or midweek services. Find a way to contribute to the life of the church that aligns with the person God made you to be.
Now, nothing in this argument is designed to be a burden to people or impress upon them a set of boxes to be checked. Rather, it is a plea to take seriously what God’s word says about involvement with a local church. God is wise and kind, and the directives in his Word are given for our good and happiness. May Hillsdale students joyfully pursue fellowship and growth within the context of their local churches.
Bryce Asberg is a senior George Washington Fellow studying religion.
