Why Christians Should Attend Every Service Of The Church
Posted: Wednesday, February 09, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Many people these days accept the saying, “Christ, not the Church”. Seemingly they are saying that simply a mental acceptance of Jesus, the Christ is all that is necessary for the Christian. But that is about as far from accuracy as one can get. And there are several reasons for that.
One, THE church is not the edifice down the street where people meet for worship and bible study. If that is what they mean, the building, then they would be right, but that is simply a building. There is nothing about it that will save anyone. But, assembling with brothers and sisters in Christ, to worship and study, is entirely different from the building itself. It makes no difference where the assembly takes place.
The word “church” means the “called out”, and was used by the Lord referring to those who would accept Him, and would be “not of this world” and in His spiritual kingdom, or church. The term, “out of this world” is referring to the state of having chosen to be in His spiritual body and to leave the worldly things. We are “in” the world but not “of” the world. Those who have obeyed His doctrine to be added to his kingdom, make up the “church”. Very simple, not a building, not a formal earthly organization, just simply His “called out”.
Now, the reasons we should attend every possible assembly of the “called out”. We are admonished to do so in the scripture. Here the writer of the Hebrews letter, speaking directly to the church says this:
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. (Hebrews 10:24-26 KJV)
One of the most important reasons to attend is that we should WANT to. If our attitude is that we wish we didn’t have to go to “church”. We need not go. Our priorities are not right. It should be that we prefer to be in the company of our fellow Christians, those of like faith to our own, and certainly to desire to learn more of His word. And also the worship service itself is an obligation. We should be highly pleased to observe those weekly acts of worship directed to our Heavenly Father. Again, if we wish we did not have to do so, it will be of no benefit to us to go. Living for Him and worshipping him should be the number ONE thing in our lives.
Those who have television programs which receive preference over the assembling with the saints, God is not number one in our lives. And He must be. In Exodus 20:3 God says: “ Thou shalt have no other gods before me”, and again in Deuteronomy 5:7 “Thou shalt have none other gods before me.” Those and other scriptures mean that there can be nothing before God in our lives. Not just the pagan gods which He specifically names.
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37 KJV)
In view of those scriptures, it becomes very obvious that our choosing to watch television rather than attend the assembling of the church indicates that our priorities are no right.
Don’t let the scripture in Matthew 10:37 cause you concern, however. That in no way, means that you should have any less affection for your family. In simple terms, it only means that one must not allow father, mother or children to hamper his serving God.
For more on ‘Loving God More than Family”, Click Here.
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