Years ago, we had a wonderful family plugged into our church. Mom, dad, and two kids – a son and a daughter. One day after our Sunday church service, the husband, whom I will call John, approached my husband for prayer. It seems that his business was slowing down and he desperately needed it to pick up and prosper. So Bob prayed with John for his business to thrive.
Months went by and one day we noticed that we had not seen John nor his family for some time. Giving John a buzz, Bob found out that he was so booked up with work that John no longer had time to attend church. He was on the job every Sunday now. Maybe soon, he said.
Time passed – then one day, there was an early morning call to the police – a local store was being robbed. Bob, being a police chaplain, was called to the scene. It turned out that John’s teenage son was one of three involved in the robbery. When confronted by the police from the outside, they set the place on fire, hoping to distract law enforcement and escape temporarily. But the police had the place pretty much surrounded, so that wouldn’t happen anytime soon. Two of the men finally surrendered and came out, but the third, John’s son – wouldn’t give up and died in the fire.
I remember attending the funeral – most of our congregation showed up and filed by John and his grieving wife and daughter, giving hugs and condolences. Lots of tears. It was a huge tragedy. But I couldn’t help but wonder – what if John had kept his family plugged into church? What if his teenage kids had kept attending church and youth events? What if, what if…?
The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25, “Do not forsake (neglect) our meeting together, as some do.” Don’t forsake the gathering…but why? Why is it good for us to be in church? Why is it a good thing to take our children and grands to church? The verse goes on to say that when we meet, we are to “encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.”
Attending church with other Christ-followers means we exhort one another. We edify and love one another, and we encourage each other. We keep each other accountable and pray for one another. We sing praises to God as one Body and fellowship with other families. We comfort one another and collectively hear God’s Word preached and taught. Hard to do all that if you’re at Disneyland!
So, what are some of the great reasons people miss Sunday church? Laundry. Or they stayed up too late the night before watching the Late, Late Movie of the Week. Or perhaps someone was sick. Maybe just not interested. All kinds of stuff, really. These days, if God can get one hour a week out of us, He should be happy because people are busy and we’re all booked up that day. But we’re booked up every day!! It all boils down to our priorities.
So where do we go for our 911s? The horoscope? Oprah Winfrey? gov.com? Dr. Phil? Friends at the gym? Dr. Fauci? CNN? Nothing compares to the wisdom and support we get from our local living body of believers. Nothing!
Here’s a list of the top ten excuses for avoiding church services. If you took these excuses and applied them to eating, this is what it might look like:
10. I was forced to eat as a child.
9. People who eat all the time are hypocrites; they aren’t really hungry.
8. There are so many different kinds of food; I can’t decide what to eat.
7. I used to eat, but I got bored and stopped.
6. I only eat on special occasions, like Christmas and Easter.
5. None of my friends will eat with me.
4. I’ll start eating when I get older.
3. I don’t really have time to eat.
2. I don’t believe that eating does anybody any good. It’s just a crutch.
And the #1 excuse for not eating…
1. Restaurants and grocery stores are only after your money.
So — Ch _ _ ch. What’s missing?
Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet, CA. For more information, you may contact them at DPCitychurch.org
Susan Beckett | The Dwelling Place City Church
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