3 PROBLEMS WITH MISSING CHURCH

It first begins as an occasional habit and it soon degenerates into a way of living. I am talking about Christians missing church! It may seem innocent and excusable but it is actually very dangerous for one’s spiritual well-being and I can at least think of four problems with a Christian habitually missing church.  

You disobey God

The Lord exhorts us through the writer of Hebrews when he says “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Here the Lord commands us to stir and encourage one another as we meet corporately. Meeting together will look different from church to church, however that looks like in your church? Be sure to attend. Missing church is refusing to obey God’s word and that is both unwise and dangerous.

You set yourself up for a fall

Despite our best efforts to appear strong and independent we all need people in our lives. Two are better than one the bible says (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Whenever you chose to neglect meetings of the church, you isolate yourself and remove yourself from the safeguard of brothers and sisters. You invariably open yourself up to all kinds of company, temptations and sin. There is some kind correlation between missing church and falling in sin. In the jungle the lion always pounces on animals that isolate themselves from the herd. Remember the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 peter 5:8).

You are saying to people your God is not worthy of worship

We give our dedication to the things we value and think are essential to our lives and the people around us know what we consider to be of utter most importance. I.e. our jobs, school and favorite sports team. The Christian’s devotion to been in the house of the Lord and worshipping him is a great testimony to the watching world. It is a way of saying God is first in my life and I will dedicate time and energy to worship him by regularly meeting with other believers. Inconsistent church attendance on the other hand is saying God is not that important and meeting with others to worship him is not such a big deal.

Clarifying thoughts  

I am not in any way saying every person who goes to church is spiritual or a Christian for that matter. Church attendance in itself does not make you a Christian nor transform you in the likeness of Christ. Neither may I saying there are no legitimate reasons for someone missing church i.e. sickness, bereavement and others. I am however saying the church is God’s primary agent of carrying out his purposes including spiritual growth and habitually missing church is both dangerous and problematic in many ways.