“Our Attitude Toward Faithful Attendance”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

If we were to visit a local congregation in any part of these United States, I believe we would see, generally, people who are unfaithful in attending the services of the local church. We could look at the number of people in attendance and see a steady drop from Sunday morning to Sunday night and their mid-week Bible study. We know that this is a problem at Spencer as well. Why do Christians suppose that one service is “more important” than another? This is not the case because all of our assemblies are important in the eyes of God. Let us turn to God’s word and see what is often associated with a lack of attendance. Could we be guilty of any of these things?

 

Unfaithful Attendance Is Associated With A Lack Of Zeal.

            To have zeal is “to be jealous, also signifies to seek or desire eagerly, in the sense of taking a warm interest in, i.e., to be the object of warm interest on the part of others” (Vine’s, p. 1272). God’s people are to be zealous (Titus 2:14). Among other qualities, Christ commanded the church at Laodicea to be zealous (Rev. 3:19). The root word for “zeal” in the Greek is found in the English word “fervent” also.  This word is used in describing Apollos (Acts 18:25). The word “fervent” means “to be hot, to boil” (Vine’s, p. 431). You show me a man or woman who is unfaithful in their attendance, and I’ll show you a man or woman who has lost that fire for the Lord they once had! This loss of zeal can have serious spiritual consequences!

 

Unfaithful Attendance Shows A Disrespect For God’s Word.

            The Bible clearly commands people to assemble together. This divine instruction is not a suggestion but a fundamental part of our faith. We see this in Hebrews 10:25, where the Holy Spirit penned, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” The writer warned that the manner of some was not to assemble, and it was wrong! Whenever we decide that we can obey certain commands and leave others alone, we are no longer a servant (Rom. 12:1-2) but have taken the place of God. He hurts his soul when one disobeys God’s word and refuses to assemble with the saints. This is not my opinion; just read what immediately follows Hebrews 10:25. “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Heb. 10:26-27). The phrase, “Not forsaking the assembling …” is the same as saying, “thou shalt not forsake”! Forsaking is then connected with sinning willfully (v. 26). It is hard to misunderstand these words. The consequences of unfaithful attendance are serious and can lead to spiritual death. Do you want to be a part of this number who sin willfully?

 

Unfaithful Attendance Has Other Sins Associated With It.

            What sins does one commit when he refuses to assemble with the saints? Some may have never realized that there was any sin involved in unfaithful attendance. Rest assured, there is! Please notice four sins that are the product of unfaithful attendance.

A person sins when he violates the command to assemble (Heb. 10:25).

A person violates the command to teach and admonish “one another” in song when he refuses to assemble with the saints (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).

Refusing to assemble is a sin because we fail to edify others when we are absent (Rom. 14:19; I Thess. 5:11). How can we build one another up (edify) when we are not present to do it? Thus, our absence proves to be a discouragement rather than an encouragement.

A person is not taught by God’s word when he refuses to attend (II Tim. 2:2; Heb. 5:12).

            These sins affect not only the soul of the person who is absent but also other people’s souls because he misses the training in God’s Word, which could equip him to teach others. Let us not forget that one who refuses to assemble with the saints is refusing to be in the presence of Jesus Himself (Rev. 2:1).

   Jesus gave His body and His life’s blood for the church (Jn. 19:33-34; Acts 20:28). Could we honestly say that Jesus would treat such a valuable relationship as nothing more than a social club? Would Jesus condone what many Christians do today who refuse to assemble with the saints every time they have the opportunity?