Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing,
But let us encourage one another. – Hebrews 10:24,25
The single most revealing statistic indicating a congregation’s health and vitality? By far and away, it is attendance at worship. That’s why we report our congregation’s attendance in every Sunday bulletin.
At Mt. Zion, new members and transfers into our church have outnumbered funerals and transfers out for a number of years. In other words, we are not a “declining” congregation. The Adult Instruction Class is generally well attended. But, at the same time, average attendance has held steady, if not declined slightly, over the same time period. So if there are more members, then why doesn’t the attendance reflect it? Must be that current members are attending with less frequency.
It is not uncommon that I hear the question or some form of it, “Where in the Bible does it say you have to go to church?” “Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing,” says the writer of the Hebrews. It’s sort of a comfort to know that, even in the early church, some Christians had to be encouraged to come to church!
It is also a good reminder of how important it is to come to church. You just cannot follow Jesus on your own. Discipleship is never do-it-yourself. Christianity is a group thing.
Who is a Christian? Someone who has not given up meeting together. That’s not all that needs to be said about Christianity, but down through the ages we have no record of a single faithful disciple who refuses to gather with other fellow believers.
“I just didn’t get anything out of church today,” someone says as they leave the church on Sunday. Such a statement betrays a misunderstanding of church on a number of levels. First, the Word of God never returns void. It always brings forth fruit. The Absolution always forgives. The Holy Communion is always the body and blood given to guard and keep us in the true faith. We may not feel changed, but we never leave church the same as when we came. We always get something out of it.
Not only that, but Paul says, “that we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” One of the reasons I must go to church is that my neighbor needs me there.
One reason why people may avoid Sunday services together is that it is so much easier to be vaguely spiritual, to cling to your cherished notions, and misconceptions when you have no fellow Christians to challenge and “spur one another.”
Finally, I cannot forget that Christ Himself likens church attendance to attendance at an important feast. Luke 14:16-24. Missing church is akin to skipping a date with my wife. I might do it, but not without consequences. At the very least, it requires an explanation, and it probably wouldn’t hurt to apologize. But, if I stand her up and I don’t have a good explanation and I refuse to apologize, then I destroy the marriage. How often, when my wife prepares dinner or makes reservations at a restaurant for a meal, how often must I sit down and eat with her? Every time.
How often, when the Lord prepares His table for me, sets out a foretaste of the feast to come, how often must I go and eat with him? Every time. Every time He sets the table and prepares the meal.
So, let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. The year of 2010 is a good year to commit yourself to weekly church attendance.
Yours affectionately in Christ,
Pastor Melius
