If I am not at church, give me a call. Fear not, doing so will not make you an ‘Attendance Policeman.’ Not that I have come across too many of them in recent years. Those are the guys who have Hebrews 10:25 tattooed on the inside of their eyelids. They seek out reasons to correct, accuse, and abuse anyone who might contravene their interpretation of the passage.
However, it is not so much their interpretation of the passage that concerns me; it is their application of it. Eventually, everybody loses the “Church Attendance Game.” When turning up to everything becomes the standard of faithfulness, you can’t win. There is always one diehard Attendance Policeman ready to accuse another of being slack because their church doesn’t meet as often as his—get off that train!
Technically, it is hard to misinterpret something so plain as: “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Heb.10:25). But when it is used as a weapon of guilt, or exclusion, someone needs to intervene.
It has taken hospitalization and influenza to keep me away from the church. Being in fellowship with my God and my brethren makes me what I am; I wouldn’t miss it.
God knows what He is doing. He put us into spiritual family groups so that we can thrive together. When we are alone, the devil picks us off. When united in the Spirit, we are encouraged and empowered.
Tragically, I have witnessed too many Christians pew-hopping their way out the back door…never to be seen again. If they told the truth on the way out, each would have to admit: “Church is not my scene!”
Stepping up is stepping in!
John Staiger
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