By Rev. Mike Ericson
I offer (without defining the church in its various aspects, or going into all the distinctions between a true church, a false church, an apostate church, nor with intent to be exhaustive in the list, etc.) ten reasons to cleave to the visible church:
the church exists for the glory of God; Eph 1:6, 12; 2 Thess 1:10;
the glory of the Lord has been poured out upon the church, it is His temple; 2 Cor 6:16; Eph 2:19-22;
the church is by divine institution; Matt 16:18; 28:18-20; 1 Cor 11:23; 2 Cor 10:8; 13:10; Eph 4:10-12;
the church is the body of Christ, with Christ as its Head; Col 1:18; Eph 5:23;
the church dispenses the means of grace; Rom 9:4; Eph 4:11-12;
the church is the safe haven, the ark; Acts 20:28-29; Rev 22:14-15; 1 Cor 5:5; Heb 13:17;
God hates schism in the body; Prov 6:19; Rom 16:17; 1 Cor 12:25;
you are not your own, but a servant of Christ, and a servant to His people; Eph 4:16; 5;2, 21; Gal 5:13;
God loves the church, the gates of Zion more than all the personal dwellings of Jacob; Ps 87:2; Eph 5:25;
the church, Mt Zion is the center of the universe; Eph 1:20-23; Heb 12:18ff, because Christ is.