Not attending all services

To press this issue, why is this the standard? Do we not find time for things that are important to us? Have you ever noticed how much more we get done the day before a vacation? It is because there is something important. It seems to me that we recognize that in virtually every area of life ... but somehow, we miss it it when it comes to church. </font>[/QUOTE]Yes, we can and should encourage folks to change their priorities for how they use their time. Whether attending more church services is the best way those priorities should be redirected is debateable. For some it may be. For others, it may not.

 

What would determine whether fellowship and involvement in Christ's body is "the best way to those priorities should be redirected"? For whom would that not be a better choice?

 

Sorry to scare you my friend, but if you'll kindly show me where my application of the Scripture is in error, then I'll be glad to retract anything that I said that violates the Scripture.

 

Those who already spend a regular amount of time fellowshipping and worshiping with the body of Christ without neglecting the other callings in their life, family, work even recreation is a calling.

Setting a minimum number of hours/services as a requirement is totally missing the point. I think the "Should we do anything?" thread about obligation and love is relevant to this. Setting a minimum number of hours/services to avoid your judgement is creating members who have obligation without love. Sharing the blessing you have experienced with more services is creating members who have obligation because of love.

I also think that sitting in more services often doesn't indicate more fellowshipping with the body or more worshipping of God, although many times it does.

 

So, if someone regularly spends 15 minutes each week fellowshipping and worshiiping is that enough?

What I am trying to get to is the standard. How do we know when it is enough, or how much is too much or too little.

 

If I go to church regularly, it is enough? Even if it is regularly on Christmas and Easter?

 

I don't think someone who does that would honestly call that regular.

 

Why would a command not to forsake the assembling only apply to one service a week? If everyone else in your local church is assembling for a service, and you do not go, what else would that be but forsaking the assembling? I disagree with the idea that people are getting too much church today. Paul preached all day and all night, while we get put out for spending 3 hours in a pew. Of course there are other things that we are called to do as Christians. But we are also called to gather ourselves together to hear the word preached, and to exhort one another. Like Pastor Larry says, we can find the time for things we want to do. I used to spend hours playing video games each day, but I could never find time for family devotions. I hardly ever play video games any more, but I still have trouble finding time for family devotions. Strange.

 

I am not talking about a requirement. I am trying to find out what kind of standard we use. "Regular" seems pretty plastic. We have regular men's meetings once a month. We have regular services a couple of times a week. We regularly go out to eat every other week or so. What exactly is "regular attendance" with Christ's body? At what point should someone be challenged about their church attendance?

I am not trying to be argumentative, and I am certainly not judging anyone ...I am simply asking how we go about finding a standard.

 

Luke 10:39-42
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 

I would like to redirect our thinking on church attendance. When we started dating, we wanted to spend as much time as possible with the object of our love. We made extra effort to be there. In my thinking, we must use the same criteria regarding assembling together.

We must, however, keep in mind that there are certain obligations families have, including church attendance and non-attendance. Should we make demands of people to attend, or should we instill the desire to attend? I think the latter is the preacher's duty.

For example, throughout my ministry, I kept the morning service to the hour because I expected folk to return at night. In rural communities, there were farm chores that could not be neglected. Let the people get home early enough to get them done so the evening was free. This did not diminish their love for Christ and the assembling, it enhanced it.

Cheers,

Jim

 

So you interpret this as a command to attend every church service?

Just an fyi that I never said anything about once a week.

I disagree too. Many folks should spend more time in church services.

Nobody disagrees with this.

 

What is so wrong about not having a "hard" standard for this kind of thing? I know some would rather the NT read like a Mishnah with legal requirements for Christians today.

Thankfully, it isn't written like that.

We can always challenge and encourage folks to attend more and do more. And if it is out of love they will.

Some folks might need encouragement to attend or do less because they are neglecting things like family and personal health.

 

So you interpret this as a command to attend every church service?
</font>[/QUOTE]No, I don't absolutely see this as a command to attend every church service. But I do see it as a safeguard against falling into sin, which is what Paul is warning of in context.

Hebrews 10:23-29
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 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.
26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Paul is saying 'Do these things which are good, so that we don't do these things which are worthy of punishment.' And his admonishment, as ye see the day approaching, do these things so much the more. We know that as things continue toward the end, it is not going to get easier to live a godly life.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

This could be us, if we neglect the means which God has ordained for us to keep ourselves.

 

Not always. Try reading Rev. 2 and 3.

The foucs is to be on Christ not church.

 

No one said going to church was a cure-all.

 

I am still not talking about a "hard standard." I am talking about how do we come up with any kind of standard. Why isn't 15 minutes a week, or Christmas and Easter, sufficient?

 

How can you do one without the other? If your focus is on Christ, will not it also be on his body?

 

Personally I have never seen going to church as much of an issue when the preacher has a passion for God and lives for Him.


A mist in the pulpit does create a fog in the pew.
Charles R. Swindoll

A New Testament preacher ... has to be surgical.
Oswald Chambers

A prepared messenger is more important than a prepared message.
Robert Boyd Munger

Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen, such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of God upon the earth.
John Wesley


He preaches well who lives well. That's all the divinity I know.
Miguel de Cervantes

If the man in the pew was trained to think for himself, very soon the man in the pulpit would have to give him something better to think about.
Oswald Chambers

In order to expound a passage, live in it well beforehand.
Oswald Chambers