Be Ye Doers. . . Of The Word!

It is much easier when one attends all of the services of the church: Sunday School, morning worship, evening service, mid-week Bible Study, revivals, seminars, etc.

It is ironic that a person says that he loves God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and then attends as few services of the church as he possibly can. This is like a man who marries a wife and then only "shows up" at home on a "hit and miss" basis.

I would like to stir the conscience of every reader of this article to not be content in attending only a partial number of the church's services. Hopefully, you will desire to attend every service, not to obtain an attendance badge — but to worship and to learn how to live the Christian life; as well as to prepare to share your faith. ". . .He who wins souls is wise." (Proverbs 11:30 NKJV)

Does purposely missing service not say, "I already know all that I need to know."? (Mr. Know-It-All) And does our example (absenteeism) not tell others that we are willing to be a "stumbling block" to them? Too many congregations have even elected leaders and teachers who miss more services than they attend. What a shame and a slap in the face to the Savior!

Now — in all honesty, think how it looks to those whom you are to be witnessing when you just hit and skip at services. You are expressing a spirit of indifference toward the church which you said you loved when you were baptized "into Christ" for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. ". . .for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (Galatians 3:27 NIV) "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38 NIV)

A sure way of becoming a backslider and apostate is to slowly begin missing one service and then another. I have seen it happen numerous times — a new Christian attends every service offered. Then, he begins missing every third Sunday School and mid-week service. Then, he begins missing 50% of the Sunday Schools, evenings and mid-weeks. Then, this absenteeism evolves into 100% of the Sunday Schools and Sunday evenings and mid-week services. However, he is still attending 75 - 100% of Sunday morning worship and feels satisfied. Now, note with me — this "move" from a 100% attender to a 25% attender came on slowly. That is the way Satan always works.

Brother, Sister – there are those who have to miss services due to the demands of a job or even occasional illness. But, would you be held accountable for a lesser reason for missing, on Judgement Day. "So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God." (Romans 14:12 NIV) The books will be opened on Judgement Day. "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books." (Revelation 20:12 NIV)

Where will you stand? Four or five hours of church attendance weekly, in comparison to the 168 hours that God gives us each week can hardly be asking too much of us, is it?

Hebrews 10:25 states, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Note — this inspired writer is stating that the believer is to not miss church gatherings. Now – can a person pick and choose what he should attend and what he should not? We Americans are use to smorgasbords or cafeteria type restaurants. Therefore, too often we do the same in picking just what we will attend and what we will not.

To illustrate the understanding of Hebrews 10:25, meaning one is to attend all services, please note: When a student begins school and the principal says, "students — we have classes Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., now, do not miss!" Is the principal saying you can miss Tuesdays and Thursdays and only attend until noon on Friday? Why, no one in his right mind would conclude that one could miss school on Tuesday and Thursday and only attend till noon on Friday. Likewise, an "open-minded" Christian can not conclude from Hebrews 10:25 that he can purposely miss Sunday School, evening service, mid-week sessions, revivals, seminars and still be in good standing with God.

Now think — by purposely missing services, you are saying to God, your neighbors, co-workers, and fellow church members that the Bible lessons and sermons are a "waste of time." In other words, when one chooses to do other things (club, lodge, team meetings, sports, TV watching, household chores that "can wait", shopping, etc.) when the church services are being conducted, it is wrong, and sin. Hebrews 10:25 is followed by verse 26, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left." Seemingly the two verses go together.

Being "lukewarm" is a terrible sin. "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16 NIV) This is exactly what one is showing when he purposely misses services. Just think — allowing company to keep him home or the car won't start, so one doesn't call a fellow Christian to give him a ride. Or the weather is too hot or too cold — or too wet or too dry.

Is it no wonder that we have so many spiritual runts in congregations today. Many have lost their first love (Rev. 2:4). Have you divorced yourself from God? God has not moved, but if your church attendance is "hit and skip," and I am not just talking about Sunday Morning services, then you have moved.

It is no wonder so many young preachers become discouraged and "throw in the towel" when supposedly God's people turn down his spiritual meals (lessons, sermons, etc.) which he has prepared.

If you are a "born again" Christian (John 3:5), then you need to repent (Acts 8:22) and pray for God to forgive you for forsaking the Lord's services. Make up your mind — right now — to attend all services and grow, grow, grow, (2 Peter 3:18).