“The source of most of the problems people have in their Christian lives relates to two things: either they are not worshiping six days a week with their life, or they are not worshiping one day a week with the assembly of the saints. We need both.” – John MacArthur.
Many will awake this Lord’s Day and feel no compunction about spending it separate from other believers as they worship alone or not at all. Our American way has taught us the enthroning of the individual and the dethroning of incorporation when it comes to Sunday worship. They have made it about the day on the calendar and refused to submit to any “enforced gathering”. For some the baby has long been disposed of with the bath water as legitimate discernment has uncovered great flaws in local churches. Alas, churches full of imperfect sinners, have been discovered to be…imperfect. So other imperfect sinners who name the name of Christ take the high ground and reclaim Sundays for themselves. Wonder of wonders!
I do my very best not to express personal peeves in this blog but I must say that I simply do not understand the selfishness that is found in the children of God which allows them to bypass congregational worship (obviously I am not including those who are physically unable to leave home for gatherings). Several decades ago, for a Christian to omit congregational worship on the Lord’s Day would have been something frowned upon. Now it seems to have become some form of superior spirituality to not allow oneself to become trivialized with that “organized religion” aspect of worshiping Christ. While our brothers and sisters in foreign lands hazard life and limb to meet with one another in underground churches, Western believers exempt themselves from the duty and delight to express our oneness in our local meeting places. For me, it has always boiled down to this: we love what Christ Himself loves and there is nothing more on earth than He loves than His bride. Certainly His bride, the church, is greater than any one group meeting in a building, but should we not love immensely the opportunity for representation of that universal entity? It is a testimony of something unearthly, something otherworldly. Should we not have an inner hunger to greet and love and serve and worship alongside the very people who share our everlasting thirst for the glory of God?
Or has that hunger turned inward so that we find our satisfaction in the safety of self?
Perhaps you say that the local church is not for you. I will submit to you in rebuttal that you have been made, in part, for the local church. You say again that you do not need the church to experience God. Can you not hear the selfishness oozing off a thought like that? The church needs you, redeemed one! Yes, Jeff, but the church is deeply flawed…well, are not you also? Again, the church has her hypocrites and I want no part of that! Have you considered that hypocrisy may be at work in your own heart in telling you that God is well-pleased with your departure and withdrawal from opportunity to participate in something larger than you? This is not about guilt but I want to submit that there is need for true conviction in this area. Please be careful, my friend, for your heart deceives you when you allow for your unique experience with local assemblies to teach you that all of them are without merit. Beyond being careful, be humble. Recognize that there is no greater visible manifestation of the enduring reality that Christians are one with God and each other; the local church is the primary gathering which tells the unsaved populace that we are set apart by God.
Your absence from Sunday gathering allows for less clarity for any who may be looking for a distinction between themselves and Christians. Your absence preaches its own message about your love for the saints. The high road of detachment has left you dizzy in your thinking and I would say that coming down from there will result in humble clarity. You will see that you are missed when you are not with your brethren. Have you ever wondered why there was/is a struggle as you conclude that you do not need us? If it is of the Lord that you have been set free from our gatherings, why then is there a wrestling within? Consider what I’ve said today and picture yourself before the enthroned Christ. Hazard to ask Him what He thinks about the best way to spend your morning on Sunday. Ponder where in Scripture this Servant King allows for exalting your individuality above humility. These issues are important and worthy of lingering thought. Take the time to discern if you are being made to feel guilty by me…or convicted by the King who may desire you to be connected to others of His children.
I think many of us have been through seasons where we don’t want to go (boring preachers, hurt by others, too much on elsewhere, etc), and also seasons where we choose not to go (usually far from the Lord and therefore no desire at all to be with His people). After all, aren’t there enough hypocrites (ie mask-wearers) in church without me going back? Isn’t it more honest to stay away?
Then when we think we really ought to return, the adversary of our souls will whisper that everyone will look down on us and whisper behind our backs and we have blown it this time and we’d better try a different church in a different town if we really want to start again … instead of going back to those who know us & love us and have (hopefully) been praying for us.
However tempting, that does not make it right to stay away – or to deny ourselves the opportunity to be forgiven by the Lord & welcomed by His people, and join again in worship of our great & gracious God. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven – who like us His praise should sing?
But there is something that applies both those who stay away and those who just come / sit / go home … and that is they will not know the privilege of really belonging to, and being part of, and contributing to the family of God & the body of Christ. We all have a part to play, a role to fulfill where God has placed us (I Cor 12:18). No spare parts! No useless parts! The whole being blessed and growing because of that which every part is contributing (Eph 4:16)! Perhaps they have never read Romans 12 or I Conthians 12 – or thought about the 40+ exhortations.commands in the Scriptures that concern “One Another”. They are our brothers & sisters in Christ, with whom we will spend eternity in glory!
But if we don’t want to spend time with the Lord’s people now, perhaps it is an indication that we don’t want to spend any time with the Lord Himself, Who loved them & gave Himself for them that they might be where He is. And if we don’t want to spend time with Him …
It’s not a question of legalism, it’s a matter of love – & obedience (Heb 10:24-25)
Thanks, David! Perfect bookend to Jeff’s blog. What s blessing. Two blogs in one!!
I must confess that I’ve been all over the map on this one. From always being in Church and participating in everything to taking an (anti)sabbatical for for years due to the feeling of disillusionment, hurt, betrayal and resentment toward the Church. Following my forced exile, I returned to Church but was there mostly for the social and soon found that I was not “getting” anything out of Church. Luckily, before I removed myself from Church again, I came to realize that I do not go to Church to “get” anything. I go to “give” and to serve. That has made all the difference