Question: I have a concern. In order to be involved in the ministry in the church that I belong to, we must agree to some rules given to us by the church. There happens to be only one rule that I do not agree on. This is that we must attend church every time the door is open. This would be Sunday morning and evening and Wednesday Bible study. If you have some scripture to share with me concerning this, I would be most grateful.

Rob

Answer: Dear Rob,

As you have presented and explained this situation, I cannot think of any passage that gives any denomination, congregation or pastor/priest the biblical authority to demand that members be in attendance "every time the door is open."

The Bible (Hebrews 10:25) says that we should not "forsake the assembling" (KJV) – the NIV says "let us not give up meeting together" – and that is a biblical injunction. But Christians are left to define what this means. No individual or group of individuals is given biblical authority by this or any other verse to command/demand the frequency of church attendance. In fact, the passage in Hebrews doesn’t say anything about "going to church" – but simply talks about "assembling/meeting" – so one might say that less formal meetings, prayer and study groups, etc. might fulfill what Hebrews is talking about.

Of course, any local church board may, in fact, set such guidelines, as long as they do not imply or overtly state that the Bible is their source of authority – that God would be displeased if a Christian were not in attendance "every time the door is open" or that attendance at all such times is directly tied to the believer’s salvation or relationship with God.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht.