The Essential Nature of the Local Church

Why is the local church essential for Christian families and their spiritual growth?Dr. Jeffrey D. Johnson emphasizes the vital role of the local church in nurturing Christian families and their faith. Despite the challenges and unhealthy influences some churches may present, isolating from the church can hinder spiritual growth and foster a sense of pride and unsubmissiveness. God has designed the church to be a place where Christians can grow in accountability and under the authority of the Scriptures, not of man.Johnson highlights that Christians are not complete on their own and need the diverse gifts of the church body to grow spiritually. A family without the church is likened to a body part claiming it doesn't need the rest of the body, leading to lopsided spiritual development. The church provides a plurality that complements the efforts of parents in raising their children in the faith, ensuring a well-rounded spiritual upbringing.Hebrews 10:25 (NKJV): "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."