P. O. Box 40031 / Cleveland, Ohio 44140 / USA / 440-201-6046
Bible Basics
For Smart People
Who Do Not Want To Be Dummies
About God and the Bible
(Parts I, II, III)
By J. George Cover
Lesson 17 - What About Church? (Text Version)
"And having an high priest over the house of God:
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.)
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" (Hebrews 10:21-25).
Is Going to Church a Conviction, a Habit, or Sporadic and Occasional? Should it be?
Is Going to Church Optional for the Children? Should it be? Is it for school? Is school more important than Sunday School and church?
A survey taken in 1991 revealed that one of eight people who say they are "Born Again" do not go a church!
How can a person say they know God when they do not keep His commandments? (I John 2:4). "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together."
Reasons People Give for Not Going to Church:
- Turned off by endless money taking.
- Boring.
- Sermon irrelevant to their lives.
- It causes them to leave with a guilty feeling.
- It is their only day off and they want to do other things.
- Working.
- Had bad experience with church in the past.
- Not invited.
- Uncomfortable going alone.
- Life style is too unacceptable to the expectations of church goers.
- Believe the church has nothing to offer them.
- Have no time to go to church.
- Sermons too long.
- Too tired.
- Only day to sleep in.
- What's the use if I don't want to live right.
It doesn't take all 16 issues to keep a person from church. Usually one weighs heavily enough.
Reasons for Going to Church:
- It is a Biblical requirement (Hebrews 10:24-25).
- 47% believe that "the Bible does not command people to attend a church and that it is a man-made requirement."
- It is a deception and dangerous to think you can get salvation and security of heaven and then withdraw, thus "forsaking the assembling."
- The church is not a store where you can come get the spiritual commodity you want and then go your way.
- Can one really speak of loving Christ while neglecting His body, the church?
- To hear from God and to get right with God.
- It helps prevent backsliding and apostacy and from being in danger of perpetual ruin.
One of the first outward signs of backsliding is missing church. Statistics show when you miss one month, you won't go for a year. Absence withers the spiritual life.
- Regular church going is needed to preserve public worship, preaching of the Word, and fellowship with God's people.
If you can miss church and not miss church, something is wrong!
"Please tell me more."
|
|