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InTheLight
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Joined: 2003/7/31
Posts: 2850
Phoenix, Arizona USA

 Church Attendance - Turnage

CHURCH ATTENDANCE


A church layman once made this profound statement to his pastor, “If people today could ask Jesus a question about their problems or circumstances, He would simply answer ‘turn to book so-and-so and verses so-and-so for your answer is to be found there.’” Every answer to man’s questions can be answered using this statement. God has supplied to every individual a thorough roadmap involving his life from birth to death. As with all of God’s ways with man, it may require study of His Word, faith, and prayer but in due time He will make His Will known. When God answers a petition, it will so thoroughly cover every aspect that whatever we receive as the answer, if it is the answer we want or not, there will be absolute and complete peace that God has heard us and faithfully answered us.

One important question in this generation of the church is concerning church attendance. All statistics seem to point to a decline in the number of people who attend church services. It is a common belief today that it is not important, and certainly not necessary or mandatory, for you to go to the house of God. But, Biblically it is vitally important where you go to church. One preacher from another generation said ,“going to church will no more make you a Christian than walking in a barn will make you a mule.” Maybe he was rough around the edges, but he was right. Just going into a building where those in attendance are gathered for the purpose of being in church is not what the Apostle Paul was talking about when he admonished in 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.” Going to the True church is unlike anything else.

It is the belief of untold numbers of people that you can be out of church, as long as you stream the service, buy a CD or DVD, or otherwise watch the proceedings in any other way without being physically present. (Thank God for these means for multitudes who by reason of handicaps and other impossible circumstances are unable to attend). The Bible clearly uses the word “assembling” in its true meaning “to bring together or gather into one place, company, body, or whole”(Merriam Webster Dictionary meaning). No other meaning of the word is fitting.

Continuing in the 10th chapter of the Book of Hebrews verses 25-31, “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, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” The spokesman for God compared the breaking of the law of Moses, for which they died without mercy, to forsaking the assemblage with the church body.
Of this church Paul said of Christ in Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Moreover, consider this truth from the Word of God, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”(1 Corinthians 12:27) Christ is the Head, and God’s people are particular members of that body.

Like the layman said to his pastor, everything is to be found in the Word of God. In this instance it is Hebrews 10:25. Church attendance is not optional or to be debated. It is COMMANDED.

-Robert Turnage


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Ron Halverson

 2019/8/7 19:12Profile





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