Not Forsaking the Assembling of Ourselves

Hebrews 10:25:

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.

Speaks for itself, right? I don’t believe I have ever met a church member that doesn’t know this verse by heart. Maybe I should say we all know it by memory. If we really knew it by heart, we might actually put it into more practice.

Fair warning – I’m telling the truth here. If you’re easily offended by blunt, honest truth, stop reading.

Yes, I’m going there. Church attendance. It seems to be the first thing that many people choose to forego when they need a day to do something fun. It appears to be the least important thing in many people’s lives, as they choose movies, ballgames (Yes, I went there, too), voluntary overtime, fishing, hunting…(shall I continue?) over church attendance.

My first reaction to this is to get angry. I’m working on this. But I get angry because these people know better. They’ve been taught the truth and know what’s right. They know not to skip church, but they do it anyway. It makes me want to grab ’em by the shoulders and say, “Don’t you see what you’re doing??”

But then I think a little deeper about it. It has begun to break my heart. The anger isn’t as strong as it used to be, and here’s why. When someone can be at church and he or she makes a choice not to be there (circumstances completely within their control), I believe that person is responsible for and will be accountable for the truth that they would have heard had they been where they were supposed to be. They are hurting themselves eternally, and yet they can’t see it. My heart breaks for them. Mostly because I can’t do anything about it. I pray for them, and tell them the truth when I have the opportunity. But the choice is up to them.

What is more important? Seeing a movie that will be playing for weeks to come, yet has no spiritual significance and no eternal impact? Bouncing a ball up and down a floor that has a basket on each end that you try to throw that ball into? Catching the biggest fish? I’ve just picked a few of the most popular ‘excuses’. Insert your own here. Are these more important than the eternal impact that good, Bible preaching will have on your life? I think not…

God help us all to place the importance we should on meeting together in a good, Bible believing church to hear the man of God preach His Word.