Why Christians Should Attend Church

Illus: A Johns Hopkins University medical researcher has just discovered what the Presbyterian Ministers’ Life Insurance Fund has known for more than two centuries: ATTENDING CHURCH IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH.

Illus: Statistics reveal that the risk of fatal heart disease is almost twice as high for the non-churchgoer than for men who attend once a week or more, according to a study made by Dr. George W. Comstock of the university’s Department of Epidemiology.

The doctor also observed that the “clean life” associated with regular churchgoing appears to be statistically related to a lower incidence of other major diseases, adding that going to church is a very favorable input.

But besides it being healthy to attend church, Bible preachers preach on church attendance for at least two other reasons, such as:

(1) BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD COMMANDS IT

Notice, God’s Word does not say, “If you think it is a good idea, you can attend church regularly!”

The fact is, God commands church attendance as much as he commands “Thou shalt not steal” or “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

The Lord clearly commands us to FORSAKE NOT THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER.

But he preaches on church attendance for another reason.

(2) BECAUSE HE IS A BIBLE PREACHING PREACHER

If a minister is going to be a Bible-preaching pastor, he is going to have to preach on church attendance. This is something God’s Word commands.

But this is one command that many Christians take very lightly. They have all kinds of excuses for why they do not attend.

For example, it is said a pastor received this letter.

Illus: "Dear Pastor,

You often stress attendance at worship as being very important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following reasons and the number of times indicated:

Christmas (Sunday before or after) 1

New Year's (Party lasted too long) 1

Easter (Get away for the holidays) 1

July 4 (National holiday) 1

Labor Day (Need to get away) 1

Memorial Day (Visit hometown) 1

School closing (Kids need a break) 1

School opens (One last fling) 1

Family reunions (Mine and wife's) 2

Sleep late (Saturday night activities) 4

Deaths in family 4

Anniversary (Second honeymoon) 1

Sickness (One for each family member) 5

Business trips (A must) 3

Vacation (3 weeks) 3

Bad weather (Ice, snow, rain, clouds) 6

Ball games 5

Unexpected company (Can't walk out) 5

Time changes (Spring ahead; fall back) 2

Special on TV (Super Bowl, etc.) 3

Pastor, that leaves only two Sundays per year. So, you can count on us to be in church on the fourth Sunday in February and the third Sunday in August unless providentially hindered.

Sincerely,

Faithful Member

As ridiculous at that letter may be, there are people who profess to be Christians who attend church this way.

However, any time a preacher preaches about church attendance, he needs to make two things very clear. Such as:

(1) ATTENDING CHURCH WILL NOT SAVE ANYONE

Illus: One man said it very eloquently: Going to church will not save you any more than going to a garage will make you a mechanic.

(2) ATTENDING CHURCH IS SOMETHING YOU DO BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE LORD

Most of us fellows would have had a hard time getting our wife to marry us if she had to beg us to come see her before we married her.

• The fact is, because of our love for her, every time we got a chance we went to see her

• The fact is, we were not looking for an excuse, we were looking for an opportunity

• And when we did not have an opportunity we made an opportunity to go and see her

Listen, someone said, “If your religion will not even take you to church, how do you expect that religion to take you to heaven?”

I WANT TO STATE AGAIN; GOING TO CHURCH WILL NOT SAVE YOU.

There are hypocrites all over the world that go to church every time the church doors are open, and they are lost as the sinner person who does not even claim to saved. GOING TO CHURCH WILL NOT SAVE YOU!

You cannot help but wonder about the salvation of that crowd that professes to be saved, that you have to beg to come to the house of God.

WHY IS IT THAT SOME CHRISTIANS TODAY HAVE A PROBLEM ATTENDING CHURCH?

It is because of a number of reasons, such as:

• They love the things of the world more then they love God

• They do not consider the Lord worth the sacrifice of energy it will take to get them there

• They love the people of the world more then they love the people of God