PTM WEEKLY UPDATE -- JUNE 22, 2009

"Attend church -- or else!"

Dear Greg: My wife recently brought home a newsletter from the church she occasionally attends. I read one of the articles and couldn't believe what I was reading. Have I just gone completely nuts, am I just nit-picking or is what I say the truth?

The article is about church attendance. I'm not quite sure that the writer of the article knows the same Jesus that I do. Of course I do leave the door open for me to be completely wrong. The article seems to be laying a huge guilt trip on people -- making them ashamed enough to show up at church. I do acknowledge that the writer has the right to his/her own opinion, but to me it seems just plain wrong. I excerpt the article below in italics, with my response following in green.

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Does Attending Church Make a Difference?

Years ago I sat as a member of a congregation, having the same viewpoint and expectations as most of you have. For the last 10 years, I seen the church body through the eyes of a pastor. Let me tell you it is quite different. And there is something I have noticed in every church I attended. There are those who make a concerted effort to attend every possible service. These people are considered the “core” of the church and can be counted on for their attendance, their time and even in their tithes. I have also noticed in each church that there are those who do not make any effort to attend more than a few times a year. Generally at Christmas and Easter time.

Perhaps these people shouldn’t even come then. Would that make it better for you? Maybe these people come because they want to acknowledge the birth and resurrection of Christ and really don’t care about the church or church building. If you don’t want them to come tell them they are unwelcome. If you can’t tell them they are unwelcome then don’t criticize them. You don't know what is in their hearts.

These people will find other things to do that will keep them out of church, and these people are less committed to the church in their time and tithes.

People need to feel the church is committed to them also before they will put themselves out and commit to the church. In any case, isn't it more desirable to be committed to Christ than to the church?

So the question comes to mind; “Does attending church really make a difference and if so to whom? In other words, “What difference does it make?” I am of the opinion that is makes a very real difference to everyone. It makes a difference to the individual involved, to the church that could use more of their time and talents; to the community where they would become another shining light; and even to God and his desire that we all become doers of the word rather than just listeners.

"Christ is the head of the universal church and we are all members. The church is not some building or denomination that identifies itself as the church. Are you saying we can't be a doer of the word outside of a building that calls itself a church?"

All of these things can be done without going to a church. Christ is the head of the universal church and we are all individual members. The church is not some building or denomination that identifies itself as the church. Are you saying we can't be a doer of the word outside of a building that calls itself a church?

I think every Christian is obligated to attend every regular service unless something unforeseen keeps them from it.

I’d have to see biblical proof that going to church every Sunday is commanded. This is legalism -- man-made ideas and opinions.

Many people go to church sparingly and claim they are committed to the church. In my opinion a person can not be committed to the church unless they are willing to be at the church at least once per week.

Talk about trying to lay a guilt trip on people! Who made these requirements? But of course you are entitled to your opinion.

However, many people are very lukewarm in their feelings toward the church, and therefore, they are lukewarm in their association with Christ.

One has nothing to do with the other. A person can be lukewarm toward a church for a variety of reasons but still be “hot” for Christ. And by the way, how is it possible to be "very" lukewarm?

If we are serious about Christ, we should also be serious about doing what he tells us to do.

An association with any building that calls itself a church has no bearing on a person's association with Christ. And again, where does Christ command us to attend church services in a house of worship every week?

In Hebrews 10:25 we read; “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing but let us encourage one another and all he more as you see the day approaching.” In this one verse we are warned to not stop meeting with other Christians.

Does this say that people can’t meet other Christians other than at services in a church building?

There are some who will only sacrifice enough of their time to attend church a couple of times per year. Once that person gets into a habit of forsaking church attendance, it becomes easier not to attend at all.

Perhaps it’s more than just a habit. Perhaps their needs aren’t being met by the pastor or the church. The pastor and church need to take some of the blame here.

What kind of message are many of us sending to God each week? We don’t want to be inconvenienced enough to attend regularly and we sure don’t want to feel obligated to serve the church, either in time, talent or money.

It is not more important to serve the church with time, talent or money than it is to serve Christ.

How do you think that makes God feel?

How does God feel when you put the importance on church rather than him?

That must hurt him very much.

Yes, it probably does hurt him because of where you have placed your priorities.

After all, he loves you enough to have sacrificed his Son for us, and he thinks the least we can do is love his Son enough to sacrifice a little time for him.

We can sacrifice a little or a lot of time for him but it doesn’t have to be in a church. Are you saying this can’t be done outside of a building that calls itself a church?

In the Bible we are told many times to edify one another. Now according to the dictionary the word "edify" means to build up, to instruct, to enlighten or to teach. That is what God wants us to do when we gather together; to do these things for others who might need it and for us to receive them when we might need it. Romans 14:19 says, “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." In Hebrews 3:13 it tells us to ". . . encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." Simply put, God has commanded that we gather together and build each other up. We can not do that if we do not gather together.

We can gather in other places than a building that calls itself a church.

God has given us another commandment too. In Matthew 6:33 He told us to “seek first the kingdom of God and then everything else will be given to you.” Okay, so Jesus tells us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness before anything else. Do we? Or, do we seek other things in our lives, and then try to squeeze in a little bit of church time?

Stop trying to guilt people into going to church. Are you saying that we can’t seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness outside of church? Does anything in Matthew 6:33 say we must seek the kingdom of God in a building that people call church?

I think we have all said, “I just don’t have the time to do everything I need to do.” Well even though we have said that, it is a false statement. We may not have the time to do everything we would like to do but we do have the time to do everything we need to do, and going to church regularly is something we all need to do.”

Who says going to church regularly is something we all need to do? Tell me who said that. I don’t think Christ ever said this so it must be another man-made rule or regulation.

It all boils down to priorities. I once had a man actually tell me that one of his chief priorities was getting enough sleep to be healthy but he was so busy the rest of the week, the only time he could actually get that sleep was on Sundays. I think we would all agree that his priorities were all wrong.

Did you know the man’s full story or did you just hear what you wanted to hear?

Can you remember as a child there would be times you didn’t want to go to school and you would tell your mother that you didn’t feel good? Well most of the time when I did that I had to go anyway but that is something we all do, get up and not feel like going somewhere. Many people don’t go to church on Sunday morning because of aches and pains. But those aches and pains won’t keep them from going shopping or to the lake or to a ball game. And no matter how they feel they will get up and go to work on Monday. I am not saying their aches and pains are not real, but I am saying that this clearly shows where church is in their list of priorities.

Children are legally obligated to attend school, and most of us are financially or contractually obligated to work, but in a free country and as Christians, we are free to choose how, where, when and with whom we worship -- or whether we go shopping, to the lake or to a ball game instead, irrespective of how we feel.

We get fed God’s word when we are in Sunday school. We get fed God’s word when we hear the sermons in church, and we get fed the Spirit of God when we associate with other Christians. Even the songs are designed to teach us to praise the Lord. The Lord’s Supper helps to bring our hearts closer to Jesus. And the collection of tithes and offerings teach us to be obedient to the Lord’s command. Everything in church was designed to grow you spiritually.

I listen to two sermons every week. Does this mean I’m not fed God’s word because I’m not in a building that calls itself a church? Does the collection of tithes and offerings teach us to be obedient to the Lord’s command? Where did the Lord command the taking up of a collection? And tithing -- isn’t that an old covenant practice?

Of course there are those who have legitimate reasons for not being in church, but all of us would have to agree that these reasons are few and far between. By going to church faithfully, it helps us build ourselves up in Christ while allowing us to build others up around us in Christ too.

Again, this can be done without ever stepping inside a building. Church attendance is not a requirement for salvation. And "all of us" do not "have to agree" with you.

When you miss church services, knowing you should be there, you feel guilty and feeling guilty will tend to harden your heart.

No it probably doesn’t make many feel guilty. Misinformed, untrue and manipulative articles like this one make people feel guilty.

It will harden your heart a little more each time you miss. And once our hearts are even a little hardened, we will find it that much easier to focus on what we want, rather than on what God wants in other areas of our lives too. Let us always remember what Psalm 122:1 says, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.'"

Yes, this is what Psalm 122:1 says -- but read the rest of the Psalm and you may come away with a different understanding.

Editor's note: To read an earlier PTM Weekly Update article about Hebrews 10:25 (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), click here.

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