As you know, I always try to center our mid-week study around prayer. Monday morning as I prayed for each of you, I could not help but notice that there were several who I pray for who have not been with us in church for quite some time. Some have a very good reason. Quite honestly, some do not. As I said in my opening “Welcome” comments, I was recently preparing for a sermon and I came across this verse in my study: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) “…as you see the Day approaching.” When you watch the news and hear all that is going on in this world; when you consider the hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, wild fires, and even the beaches being closed down because of too many sharks, does it make you think that “the Day” might be just around the corner? Do you believe that the return of Jesus is imminent?
Maybe you don’t even think about that. Maybe you think that you have lots of time. For all you know, life could go on forever or at least for another 30, 40, or 50 years. Jesus is coming! We do not know when, but He is coming. And if you believe that “the Day” is approaching, has it changed the way that you live at all? Do you live with a sense of urgency? Are there things that you want to get done? Are there people who you want to talk to? The author of Hebrews is writing to Christians and calling on them to persevere. Things are happening all around us and he tells us to “…draw near to God with a sincere heart…”(10:22). He tells us to “…hold unswervingly to the hope we profess…”(10:23), and then tells us “…to consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”(10:24). It is then as if he almost pauses and thinks if that is going to happen we really do need to be together. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing…”(10:25). He is not speaking of an occasional miss here and there, but rather those who have an occasional visit here and there. I know that people have things going on in their lives, but do you plan meeting with your church family around the rest of your schedule, or do you plan the rest of your schedule around your meeting with your church family? Think about that!
This really hit home for me when I read a story this past week about a small church in Somalia and a guy by the name of Billy. Church was important to him and his friends. Really important! It was important for him to be with his brothers and sisters in Christ and if anyone ever had an excuse to not meet together, it was these guys. Check out this story:
Somalia might be the most dangerous place in the world. Decades of conflict have gutted the country’s infrastructure. Somalia’s economy ranks dead last among all nations, and it isn’t a matter of if you will experience a terrorist attack but when.
Billy was born into a religious family in Mogadishu. His father was a tribal and religious leader who had memorized the entire Koran. Out of curiosity, Billy started studying an English Bible alongside his Koran. After three years of study, he converted to Christianity. He learned a lot from Christian radio broadcasts from the Seychelles and Kenya, and it was on the radio that he first heard the voice of another Somali who was a Christian.
Billy’s family threatened him when he confessed his new faith. That was when he first began to understand the words of Paul in 2 Timothy 3:12: “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
Six years after his conversion, Billy met his first Christian Somali. Together, as underground Christians, they gathered fourteen believers and started an underground church. A year later, Muslims discovered the growing Christian community and started persecution in earnest. One of their church members, Liibaan, now a famed Somali martyr, was the first to be murdered. Then a doctor who attended the church was shot to death. An educator was kidnapped and executed. A Christian man and his Muslim wife were executed together in their bedroom. Another church member was taken off a bus and executed in broad daylight.Twelve in all were murdered. None of the murderers were ever prosecuted.
Today, just two members have survived out of the original church of fourteen—Billy and one other. Billy escaped many attempts on his life before moving to another country. From that base, he travels in and out of Somalia, planting and nurturing underground house churches. No longer are there only fourteen Christians in Mogadishu. The church is quietly growing, partly because of the testimony of those twelve who died for Christ.
Why does Billy keep going back to Somalia? He was almost killed! Most all of his friends were killed! Why does he keep going back? For church! To meet with his church! Amazing!!! We have the freedom to go to church whenever and wherever we want without the fear of being harmed and yet “…some are in the habit…” of neglecting that privilege. Why is that? It has become a habit. I am writing this because of my burden for what is going on today. Many Christians are neglecting church. Church attendance in the US is on the decline. Everywhere you go there are professing believers who do not regularly attend church even though they can. There are some who say that they will not go to church because of the Coronavirus and I fully understand that, but then why go to a restaurant or grocery store or Walmart? DL Moody said that “Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man.”
Are you saved by going to church? No, of course not! If the church is to reflect Christ, and it is, then that means that the church should be devoted just as Jesus was devoted to the will of the Father. It is God’s will for you to attend church regularly. Are you not attending due to excuses, laziness, or the lack of a desire to have fellowship with other believers? When we deliberately refrain from going to church, that is sin. I am not trying to be legalistic. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. If someone is refusing to go to church and doesn’t have the desire to have fellowship with other believers there is serious reason for concern.
We were created to have fellowship and you cannot live this Christian life alone. That is why it was so difficult for many of us to not be able to be together for those 14 weeks of shutdown due to the Coronavirus. In your time of need how can others help you and in someone else’s time of need how can you help them? How is it possible for you to be encouraged by the church if you are not there? Do not doubt what God can do through you and how you might be a blessing to others. We are told to do many things for the body of Christ, but we cannot do them if we are not going to church. God has given you a specific gift that is to be used for the benefit of the church, and you, by not attending, are denying others of your gift. Some are musicians, teachers, and helpers. Some are encouragers and we know that there are many who could use some encouragement right now. When does the church function best? It is when its members are actively using their gifts for the benefit of others and the glory of God. Corporate worship and the preaching and teaching of the Word of God are essential to our walk of faith. Both are very important to us growing and maturing. Jesus died for the church; He love His church, so, why would we neglect it?
I would also like to say, on a personal note, your faithfulness and attendance is a tremendous encouragement to me and to many others I am sure. But for those of you who are occasional attenders, we miss you, we pray for you, and we would love to have you be with us. It genuinely weighs on me when I look at the report that I get each week showing me who is reading the devotionals and who is not. Many of those who are not reading the devotional are also not attending church. I want you to know that I pray for you! This habit concerns me and I ask that we all pray for each other. Please pray for me as well! I will close with a few verses that give me encouragement.
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122:1)
Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You.” (Psalm 84:4)
“They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe…” (Acts 2:42-43)