A Word of
Clarification (No. 7 in Series)
As I was reading a few weeks ago for this series of
articles concerning church attendance, I came across a lengthy quote which says
clearly what I would like to say about this subject because I want us to be clear
on what the passage in Hebrews 10:24-25 is teaching. George Guthrie has written, “Another caution
is in order with regard to the author’s challenge to ‘not give up meeting
together.’ This exhortation has been
used at times to exhort church members to attend every meeting offered by the
church during the week: Sunday School, Sunday morning worship, evening worship,
visitation on Monday night, prayer meeting Wednesday night, Bible study Friday
noon; all are held up as part of the standard for ‘let us not give up meeting
together.’” I hope you know that I have
not intended to guilt you into “living at the church building.” The point is not to be here every time the
doors are open necessarily. I simply
want you to see the value of church membership.
I want you to make a commitment to regular church attendance.
Guthrie continues his comments, “The principle behind
this part of the author’s challenge, however, has to do with consistent
involvement in the life of the church rather than frenetic activity in all the
programs of the church. We as Christian
leaders must not burden people with a guilt trip if they are not at the church
five nights a week. The question is
whether they are meaningfully engaged in the life of the body on a weekly
basis. Are they involved in
worship? Are they being educated through
preaching and teaching of God’s Word?
Are they ministering, exercising their spiritual gifts? Are they experiencing Christian
fellowship? We should teach these
aspects of healthy Christian living and allow the Holy Spirit to show them how
these are to be lived out consistently.”
This is the standard. This is
what pleases God. This is what makes for
a strong, faithful church. This is what
makes for a healthy Christian individual and family. Let us examine ourselves in this aspect of
our Christian lives and recommit to regular, weekly church attendance.