WHY DO SOME CHRISTIANS ASSEMBLE ONLY ON
SUNDAY FOR WORSHIP ONLY, ONLY ONCE IN A WHILE?
When this kind of question is asked, it is not
being asked in order to “brow beat” anyone. But rather, there is the
genuine concern for the souls of those who find themselves “assembling only on
Sunday for worship only, only once in a while.” Indeed, it is quite strange to
see this ever-present trend among the people of God — people who have been
purchased with the blood of Christ, enlisted in the army of the Lord, under the
command of the Captain of our salvation, shining as lights in the world, and
those who are to put the Lord and His kingdom first (I Pet. 1:18-19; 2 Tim. 2:3;
Heb. 2:9-10; Mat. 5:14-16; 6:33). Thus, in order to answer the question of
“Why do some Christians assemble only on Sunday for worship only, only once in
a while?” There are several questions which need to be asked:
IS IT BECAUSE...
· There are MORE IMPORTANT THINGS for you to be involved with during the times
of assembling (Mat. 6:33; Col. 3:1-6)?
· You have NO NEED for additional study (2 Tim. 2:15; I Pet. 2:2; James 1:21)?
· You have a SUPERIOR SPIRITUALITY which enables you to “forsake” the
times of assembling; (Heb. 10:23-25; Luke 18:9-14)?
· You try to SUBSTITUTE the times of assembling with “good works” or
“service” to others (Lev. 10:1-2, John 4:24; Mat. 8:19-22)?
· By absenting yourself from the times of worship, Bible classes and gospel
meetings you think you are being OBEDIENT and SUBMISSIVE to those who rule over
and watch on behalf of your soul (Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17; I Pet. 5:1-4)?
· By NOT ATTENDING the times of assembling you are showing the world how
important it is to be a member of the Lord’s church (Mat. 5:13-16; 2 Cor. 4:3;
Phi. 2:13-16)?
· Of your DESIRE to be an encouragement to your brethren when you absent
yourself from the times of assembly (Heb. 10:23-25; Eph. 4:14-16)?
· You are “walking worthy,” and being “stedfast,” and “abounding in
the work of the Lord” WHEN you absent yourself (Eph. 4:1, 17; I Cor. 15:58)?
· By NOT TAKING PART in the “body,” you are saying that we have nothing to
supply and no function to fulfill in the body of Christ (Eph. 4:14-16; Mat.
25:14-30)?
· You DO NOT NEED the fellowship, strength, comfort and peace that is intended
by God only in the church (I John 1:7; Phi. 4:6-8)?
· Your children, whom you are charged with training, do not need THE EXAMPLE of
proper loyalty and devotion to God in every area (Eph. 6:4)?
· You are not concerned about UNFAITHFULNESS which will cause you to miss
heaven with all of its glory and eternal splendor (Jam. 4:17; Mat. 25:1-13; Rev.
21:8, 27)?
In view of these few observations, it is my prayer that those who
“assemble ONLY on Sunday for worship ONLY, ONLY once in a while, will repent
and begin to continue
“steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42), “not forsaking the
assembling of ourselves together” (Heb. 10:25), and will “always abounding
in the work of the Lord” (I Cor. 15:58). There can be no doubt that in
being a faithful child of God, the time spent in preparing ourselves as well as
in properly influencing others (Rev. 2:10; 2 Tim. 2:15; I Tim. 4:12),
illustrates to all concerned that faithful Christian living is far better than
anything this world has to offer (Heb. 11:24-26; I John 2:15-17).
Thus, the answer to the question really comes down to whether or not you “love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30).
—Selected
Bob Patterson, Bellview Church of Christ