Tag Archives: attendance

Do I Have To?

20 Sunday Nov 2022

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It’s Saturday evening, when the mother of the house says to the children, “We need to get to bed because we have church tomorrow.” “Do I have to go?” Suzy says aloud. Younger Mike, boldly says, “It’s boring!” Finally, Beth, a teenager, says, “I don’t want to go. None of my friends are there.”

Something of a common refrain from children; these are not words only from our youth today, but they were heard a generation ago also. I suspect that 50 to 55 years ago they were saying the same things. Rather than fight with the kids, the mother of the house says, “What’s the use? If I make the children go, then they may grow up not liking the Lord and going to church. I certainly don’t want that. Maybe it’s best if they learn of such things on their own.” not realizing how shallow a sentiment this truly is. Not only is this sentiment lacking substance, but it’s a reflection of the heart in the one who said it. In other words, the mother of the house has not the conviction of heart to make her children do that which is right in the Lord’s eyes.

The common, and proper, reply to this way of thinking is associated with what parents do (did) with their children in matters of personal hygiene. I remember when I was a little boy and was told I had to take a bath, and all I could do was groan. I was compelled because of the value associated with being clean. When children groan because of bathing, brushing their teeth, etc., they may complain to high heaven about it, but as they grow older the value of that which was compelled upon was soon realized and roots sunk deep.

What if one of our parents said to his child, “Okay, Junior, you don’t have to do that, lest you grow up hating the importance of personal hygiene.” If there is a parent guilty of this, that parent could be properly called a bad parent. On the other hand, because the parent didn’t give ground, the value the child didn’t see early on was realized later and continued as the youthful years turned into adult years. This is the point: it’s all a matter of what is valued. When parents don’t value the Lord for themselves, one can be sure this will pass along to the children. It’s a rare case that it does not. Thus, whatever can be said about the children, be sure to look at the parenting applied. Parents justify themselves, to be sure, and perhaps there is much warrant in their justification (was the prophet Samuel a bad parent?). On the other hand, remember the saying, “wisdom is justified by her children” – do you know its meaning? The children are the product of what they are taught and what they observe in their parents. Thus, the apples do not fall far from the tree. Children exhibit the wisdom of their parents; they follow the same thing their parents valued. Let us all do what we can to exhibit the wisdom of the Lord.

The Heart is Faithful

31 Tuesday Jul 2018

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     Your heart is a faithful instrument your body needs to live from day to day, in fact, it is a faithful muscle that allows us to live from moment to moment. The other day I heard John Shannon make a remark along this line; it impressed me a great deal. On Wednesday, when it was my turn to give the invitation, I did a pitiful job at trying to convey what he said. So bad was it, I thought I might do better in a brief bulletin article.

     Without a faithful heart meeting the task the Lord designed for it, no one would survive. It is a muscle that pulls it weight and then some! With the heart, life is maintained because the heart pumps the blood of life throughout the body, the blood carries the nutrients necessary for health and oxygen for the body to survive. According to one source, the heart is about the size of a fist, weighs less than 15 ounces and beats about 100,000 times a day. When you are sitting down it is beating. When you are asleep it is beating. When you are exerting much energy it is beating. When you are resting from that exertion it is beating. The heart is a faithful muscle the Lord gave to each of us for the physical life we have. If the heart is overworked one has high blood pressure, and that brings to one its own physical complication. Is there such a thing as an underworked heart? If so, it can’t be good! A heart that is underworked or overworked is not one that places us in the best position for a long life. A properly working heart, however, is a benefit we can’t live without.

    Consider our walk with the Lord. Are we as faithful to the Lord as our heart is to us? I suspect, that each of us can say to some degree, “I have failed in that area.” If that is so, then consider the Lord’s mercy toward us as we have opportunity to read these words and reflect on that. If our walk with the Lord is as faithful as our physical muscle (heart) is to the body, think how strong each of us would be spiritually, and then add that number to the whole of the congregation, considering how spiritually strong the congregation would be! I can only imagine. Our heart is not strong when our anger issues surface, when our minds wonder from loyalty to a spouse to another person, when one gives little to the Lord in time and means, when one talks out of turn (talking about another to a third person), and when our attendance lags.

     Our heart is strong, on the other hand, when one is able to suppress the anger that boils to the top, when loyalty to a spouse is never challenged by an outside source, when the words that come from our mouth are biblical and build up people, when you give of your precious time to the Lord’s body and generous in your support to His cause and you walk alongside others in attendance.

     I may not be as strong as a farmer, construction worker or a mother, but if my heart is strong, then I am in a good position to live a productive life. In the same way, spiritually, if my heart (mind) is faithful (strong) to the Lord and His ways, then my life is blessed and His reward is waiting for me because my reward is His holiness. RT

Do I have to go?

14 Thursday Apr 2016

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Is one REQUIRED to “go to church”? One can almost hear the lament or moan in the asking of the question. What a shame that some people, many people even ask the question. Yet, in the asking of it, it is very likely there is an exposure of one’s real desire.

If you say yes, there is a requirement, then you will be asked to show the verse that says, “thou shalt go to church!” putting such emphasis on a command/law, and little on the heart. There are a number of people who resist any affirmative answer to “going to church,” and this is because there is no desire to go. The reason they don’t want to go is because their love for the Lord is not as they think it is.

Can a case be made for attending church services? It is truly a shame that anyone would ask this question. But, it is asked, so let us tackle it.

Note where the emphasis is placed in the question. It is the word “required.” In other words, there are many people who do not want to be required by anyone, even God, to do something they have no desire to do. Of course, in this life, in our country, one can’t require anyone to “go to church” or attend church if there is no desire.

It is very often the case that with questions like this one we are considering in this bulletin article it is a reflection of an incomplete love or self-serving disposition of wanting to love God, but only to obey Him in so far as it is convenient.

For a genuine and true Christian, one not in name only, there is no other desire but to love the Lord and be with His people. Why is that? Note what the Holy Spirit says, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:19-25, NET).

Do you love the Lord? If so, then why would you (or anyone) dismiss His exhortation as He expressed it here? If you genuinely love the Lord, you won’t dismiss anything that He said. In fact, there will be no “requirement” associated with it at all; it will be a pleasure! You will be there because you love the Lord, you will be there because you love the brethren, you will be there because of the encouragement given and received, you will be there because of the teaching received. On the other hand, if you say you love the Lord, but do not want to attend, the problem is and always will be you.  RT

GOING TO CHURCH

07 Tuesday Oct 2014

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“Going to church” is not a matter of going to the building as some sort of check off list. It is not a matter of “works religion.” Gathering together with the saints is much more than that. The saints in the first century did so (Acts 20:7), and Paul exhorted the saints in Corinth to do the same (1 Corinthians 16:1-2; 4:17). Those who love the Lord won’t be any place but where the Lord desires, and for the reasons the Lord desires.

Here are some points for your consideration: 1) Matthew 16:13-19—Jesus “built” (established) His church. 2) Ephesians 1:22-23—Jesus is the head of His church, His body. 3) Ephesians 4:4—There is one body (church). 4) Ephesians 5:23-32—The church is the saved. Paul wrote to the local body (in Ephesus); he did not delineate between the local, visible, invisible, and/or universal church. 5) Hebrews 10:19-31—After a lengthy discussion on the differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit gives a number of exhortations in this section: a) the saints are to draw near with a true heart (10:22), b) the saints are to hold fast their confession (10:23; cf. Romans 10:9-10), c) the saints are to consider one another (10:24), d) the saints are not to forsake (abandon) the assembling together (10:25); this is your “go to church.” e) to sin willfully is to crucify the Son of God afresh (10:26), f) it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (10:31).

What’s hard to understand? For one who doesn’t want to understand, maybe it’s the heart that is hard.

THE EMPTY PEW

23 Tuesday Sep 2014

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It was Mary’s birthday the other day, but Mary was anything but happy. It seems that she was promised by her dad he would be present for her birthday. She hadn’t seen him in a little while, and she was so looking forward to see him. Mary was even told by her dad the day before that he would be there for her birthday, and he had good intentions of being there. The day came, however, and he never showed. Sadly, Mary did not know why. For all that she knew, her dad could have been in trouble and, if she knew, she would run to help.

Dad was too embarrassed to tell Mary that he would not show; he just hoped she understood. But, she didn’t understand. All that she really did understand what that dad’s good intentions (so he wanted her to believe) fell far short of actual accomplishments. Once again, Mary was saddened and went to bed crying that her dad thought so little of her to not even show up for such an important day to his little girl.

This metaphor illustrates what a parent does who does not love. If dad really loved Mary he would have been there because he promised her he would. If a no-show was unavoidable, he would called and let her know why he could not. In any case, all she knew what he did not show up. It is likely that her dad would have strongly and vigorously disputed anyone who said he did not love his little girl. Mary was home crying because, once again, she did not see her dad when he promised to be there.

Those who love the Lord will be where they promised the Lord they would be, doing what they promised to do. Those who “forget” both will strongly and vigorously dispute anyone who said he (she) did not love the Lord. On Sunday, there sits, still, an empty pew.

NO SIN INVOLVED

30 Friday Aug 2013

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The wisdom of “going to church” is obvious to any who give some godly thought to the idea. “Going to church” is an occasion of gathering with the saints for the purpose of glorifying God and, to a lesser degree, encouraging the saints. Others “go to church” because it is part of their weekly routine and, as we know, routines are comfortable. While  that idea may not be ideal, it is not necessarily a bad reason to “go to church;” it would be better, however, for one to adopt a reason that has something more spiritually substantive than physical routine. For many people, “going to church” is an occasion to get another off one’s back—which is a terrible reason to go! Those interested in God will never give thought of “going to church” for less than the proper reason of loving the Lord.

Those who love the Lord “go to church,” not because they have to, but because there is a desire to do so. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 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” (Hebrews 10:24-25, NKJV). Sometimes this important (all-important) reason is forgotten.

In the above passage is a word that is often abused or misunderstood; that word is “forsake.” We are told, by some, that if someone misses “church,” then that one is forsaking of the assembly—and that is sinful. Consider a scenario: You are on your way to Wednesday Bible study; you get a call from someone in a tight spot. They are really asking for help because they don’t know what to do. You answer that call, and then tend to their need, and miss Bible study by doing so. Have you sinned? Some will assert that you have. Unfortunately, some of those who so think lack spiritual discernment. Is there forsaking in this? Hardly! The meaning of the word forsake means to abandon (as any quality English Dictionary will so attest). In fact, the NET translates the first portion of the verse this way: “… not abandoning our own meetings…”

Lest we misunderstand, it is certainly possible to sin by missing the assembling together with the saints, but that has everything to do with the heart’s desire, which precipitates physical actions. Thus, in our scenario, as one prepares for Bible study, but gets a call to respond to that human need, then the answer is an obvious NO, there is no sin involved.

This brings us to an application that fits each of us. The Lord does not need anything from us, but He wants everything that belongs to us. If He has our heart, then we will do whatever it is that He says He wants done, and we will do so out of love for Jesus. Jesus said to His disciples, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10). “Going to church” falls within this sentiment. If we would pattern our lives after the pattern of Jesus, then what the Holy Spirit said in Hebrews 10 will be no burden at all, but a desire.

Why do you not attend? Is it because you really don’t love the Lord like you want others to think that you do? If you can attend and don’t, then your words are not heard. If you can’t attend and desire to do so, the Lord knows why. The challenge to each of us is for each to seek to please the Lord and not man, including oneself. RT

Important?

19 Friday Feb 2010

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Church Attendance

In the latest PWB (Pastor’s Weekly Briefing, 2/19/10), there is an entry about church attendance and the percentages of those who attend within particular states. They recognized the top ten states where church attendance is high, and the ten states where church attendance is low. I found it interesting that of the ten states considered high, each one of those states would be considered a “red” state and the low states would be considered a “blue” state. Any correlation? The New England states (Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island) are all “blue,” and one “red” state also listed in the category of low attendance. Of the “high” category, they are all “red” states.

What about church attendance, is it important, and why is it important? Those who love the Lord will gather with others who love the Lord. Those who say they love the Lord, but don’t gather with the saints, many times, delude themselves. The Scripture is clear; the Holy Spirit considers it very important for the saints to gather together on a routine basis (Hebrews 10:19-25). In the early church, they gathered daily (Acts 2:46). The importance of gathering weekly was (is) for the purpose of participation in the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; cf. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

Gathering together with the saints benefits us because we have a common association with people desiring to try to understand life and God’s role for our lives in the society we live. It encourages us to “hang in there,” because whatever “curveball” life presents, we are in the batter’s box and have good eye-hand coordination to make contact with the ball, getting a base hit. Gathering together encourages us to focus our attention on the One we worship. We are not there to be entertained, to be read to, to be sung to, but to participate in service to the Lord. It is very important and it is unfortunate when there are those who call themselves Christian who dismiss the Lord with their thinking and actions relative to church attendance.