The Assembling of Ourselves Together
By Joe R. Price

I make the following comments out of love for your souls. We need to speak plainly and think seriously about attendance at our worship services. There is a growing difference between the number present for the Sunday morning Bible classes and worship, and the number present at the Sunday evening worship service. I fully understand (as should everyone else) that some of the brethren are not physically able to attend all of the services. We believe God takes such limitations into account (2 Corinthians 8:12). But if physical ailment is not what is preventing you from attending the worship services, then what is? As far as I know, the Sunday night assembly (and for that matter, the Wednesday night meeting) is a scheduled part of the church's work, and as such, is not an optional consideration.

All scheduled assemblies fall under the exhortation in Hebrews 10:24-25: "...And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

Given this divine edict, should we not make every effort to be present at every assembly? The word "forsake" means, "to leave behind, abandon" (Vine, II: 126). Are you choosing to "leave behind" some of the scheduled assemblies? If so, according to this passage, you are sinning against God. You need to repent and correct your current "manner" (habit, custom). As we attempt to study the need for faithful attendance, consider with me some reasons why we should be present every time God's children assemble.

Assembling to worship God is the Christian's RESPONSIBILITY. God seeks true worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). The true worshipper fights to overcome obstacles that would keep him from worshipping his God. What obstacle(s) is Satan using to prohibit your assembling to worship with your brethren at the regularly scheduled meetings? It could be distance, time, work, exhaustion, recreation, etc. We must work hard to keep hindrances from becoming stumbling blocks to our obedience. Jesus' disciples must sacrifice (Luke 9:23). That may mean traveling a few extra miles, or getting up an hour earlier, or going to bed an hour earlier the night before, or changing a work schedule. Remember, we must seek God's kingdom and His righteousness first (Matthew 6:33). Shouldn't that include assembling with the saints to worship God? After all, if we can always be present and on time for our jobs and social events, shouldn't we be doing the same for the Lord?

Assembling to worship God is the Christian's PRIVILEGE. Sadly, some Christians view attending worship services as a burden, rather than a joy. This is not an expression of love for God; rather, it is drudgery, compromise, and complaint (1 John 5:3). David said, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of Jehovah." (Psalm 122:1) What a privilege it is to worship our Creator and Redeemer! When we forget the honor attached to worshipping God, our worship becomes cold formalism, which God will not accept (cf. Matthew 15:8-9). To help us avoid forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, we must constantly assess and improve our attitudes toward worship.

We do not worship to be seen of, or honored by, men. We worship to honor God who saves us and gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:1; John 12:42-43).

Assembling to worship God is a Christian BLESSING. If you consider yourself blessed because you attend one worship service per week, wouldn't attending all of them provide even greater blessings? Every worship service offered to God "in spirit and truth" is a blessing for those who faithfully participate (John 4:24). Attending worship services encourages us to "continue steadfastly" (Acts 2:42), and "provokes us unto love and good works" (Hebrews 10:24). Thus, God blesses us whenever we worship Him (John 4:23). And, when you are present at all of the assemblies, your influence is a blessing for others (Matthew 5:16). So, by not forsaking the assembling together, not only do you receive a blessing, but you are also a blessing to others. No blessing is received or given if you are absent.

Let's renew our commitment to fully participate in our worship services and to be present for all of them. We cannot please God if we neglect to obey (Hebrews 10:24-25). Take to heart the responsibility, privilege, and blessing of assembling together to worship our God.

My good friend and brother has hit upon a serious problem in many congregations of the Lord's people. If you look at the numbers, you will observe the common trend-lower attendance on Sunday evening and at Wednesday Bible Study--about which Brother Price wrote. Why is this lack of attendance such a common problem in the church? Following are a few suggestions:

There may be another indicator of why brethren fail to attend all the services. In many places, after Sunday morning services, brethren appear to "dress down" for the other assemblies. Doesn't this send others a message that I believe other meeting times are less important than Lord's Day morning?

Casual dress has become a drawing card for many of the community and megachurches. "Come as you are" is the common slogan heard in many of the churches established by men. It appears that some of that mentality has rubbed off on members of Christ's body. If we do not see the need to treat the other services with the same respect and dignity as the Sunday morning service, why wouldn't others think that it might not be necessary to attend those services? Unfortunately, some of our brethren who deserve great respect, and who are truly knowledgeable about God's word, are among the most difficult to convince that this is a problem. True, the church does not have a dress code, and God does look at the heart. But do you honestly believe the way you dress doesn't send a message concerning your attitude about what you're doing? Think about it! (KMG)


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