In the church today there is a growing trend of thought that assembling with the congregation, especially on Sunday night or Wednesday night, is “not important.” There are a growing number of members who choose not to attend those periods of worship. They think it more beneficial for them to stay home and rest or engage in some worldly activity to take the place of their attendance. I cannot fathom why this would be. We read in Hebrews 10:25, “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.” In assembling together for the purpose of worship, we also exhort and encourage each other to godly living. Certainly, we all need this boost of motivation to flee from temptation, yet some choose instead to flee from the assembling. And many times those who do not attend are those who are most in need of encouragement. But there is so much more to be said of forsaking the assembling. Much can be gained through gathering with the church. When we become newborn babes in Christ, we are to “. . . desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:2). The growth that can be accomplished through the hearing of God’s word is irreplaceable. Attending worship is one of the ways to show your faith in God because we are to “. . . shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18). We have a responsibility to teach and admonish others in song, which we cannot do if we do not gather with other Christians (Ephesians 5:19). And, meeting with the saints helps to give us the strength we need to keep from falling away from Christ (II Peter 2:20-22). The benefits from attending all church services are boundless. Don’t pass up the opportunity to meet with the saints and worship the God of heaven.
Ken Tyler
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