Christians don't tell lies....some just sing them even in church.hmmmmmm
CHRISTIANS DON’T TELL LIES…SOME JUST SING THEM IN CHURCH
Normally, I try to start each article I write with a story relating to the topic. This time I want to begin by asking some questions. Assuming most people who read this post are Christians and attend worship and/or Bible study services at a local congregation, please answer the questions as they pertain to your situation.
At your congregation, are there as many people who attend Bible study on Sunday morning as there are who attend worship services?
At your congregation, are there as many people who attend Sunday evening services as there are who attend worship on Sunday morning?
At your congregation, are there are many people who attend a mid-week Bible study as there are who attend Sunday morning worship service?
At your congregation, if there is a Gospel meeting or special series of lessons presented throughout the week, do as many people attend as show up for Sunday morning worship?
Are there members of your congregation who will attend Sunday morning worship and can consistently be counted on to NOT be present at any other assembly or function until the next Sunday morning worship?
Unless your congregation is incredibly special, (and if it is, I’d love to hear about it) then the answer to these questions are: no, no, no, no, yes.
It is a fact that many “church members” have a high school-student mentality when it comes to religion. By this I mean that they display the same depth of dedication as that of a student when they ask, “What do I need to pass?” Anyone who has ever taught understands that this question can be interpreted as “I don’t want to work any harder that I have to, so what is the minimum requirement so I can squeeze by?” I’ve even heard the argument made that “The Bible doesn’t say anything about attending Bible study, so I don’t have to be there.” The idea is that by attending Sunday morning worship, a person has “done their duty,” and there is nothing else to do until the next Sunday.
There is a mindset by a lot of people that “going to church” and Christianity are somehow different things. I recently read one author who exclaimed that a Christian doesn’t need to attend any sort of services unless they just want to because wherever a person is, there they can find God. This same author went on to exuberantly say that a Christian can stay in bed on Sunday morning and snuggle with their dog, and God will be OK with that since the bed and the dog become “holy ground” while the Christian is occupying it. This might seem far-fetched, but it is not very different from the rationale used by members who forego Bible study, evening services, and Gospel meetings. In these instances, the individuals see no purpose in assembling with other Christians.
First, every church member needs to understand that attendance is required … and commanded. The writer of Hebrews wrote: “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.” ( Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV)
Notice the writer DID NOT say “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together on Sunday morning.” The verse dictates that anytime the members of a congregation decide to meet, then individuals have an obligation to be there, if at all possible.
Members who ignore this commandment fail to understand that “It’s not all about me.” We attend Bible class and worship in order to serve others as much as we are served. Each person possesses gifts and talents needed by the congregation. By attending, a person brings their special collection of abilities and insights, which are denied to others by their absence. Paul Prather wrote, in the article “Sorry, but if you’re a Christian, you need to go to church. Regularly” that:
“Your fellow churchgoers will inspire and comfort you. Sure, some Christians will let you down, because they’re human and that’s what humans do. But you’ll also find disciples who’ll sit beside you in court when your kid’s up on drug charges, and who’ll hold your hand when your spouse is lying in a coffin, and who’ll bring you soup when you’re sick with the flu. When everything’s going wrong, they’ll assure you it’s going to be OK in the end, because they – and God – have your back.”
When on the road to Damascus, Saul was told by Jesus that he [Saul] was persecuting Him. Jesus had already ascended to Heaven, so how could Saul have been persecuting Him? Because Saul was hurting Christians, then he was also hurting Christ. When we honor our local congregation by being an active member, then we honor Christ. When we dishonor our congregations by ignoring our directives for fellowship, then we are dishonoring Christ. Jesus said;
“In as much as you’ve done it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you’ve done it unto me.” ( Matthew 25:40 NKJV)
If your congregation is typical of the Lord’s Church, there will be times of congregational singing. Church members will dutifully join in and sing “ Oh How I Love Jesus,” “Nearer My God to Thee,” ” I Want to Be a Worker (for the Lord),” and ” I Love Thy Kingdom Lord.” I wonder if the people who never plan on being back until the next Sunday morning worship service ever stop and think about the words in the hymnal as they are singing them?
Maybe we should add an additional song in the hymn book. We can call it Amazing Grace–Revised .
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound.
I hope it takes nothing from me!
I might have been lost, but since I’m found,
There’s nothing else to do, you see!
Though some see dangers, toils, and snares,
I have no need for fright.
Since I have grace then I am saved,
Don’t expect me back tonight.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
There’s a question I want to ask.
If I don’t see a need to sing,
Will God just let me pass?
At least, if the song leader picks that hymn, there won’t be so many lies told when we sing.
Normally, I try to start each article I write with a story relating to the topic. This time I want to begin by asking some questions. Assuming most people who read this post are Christians and attend worship and/or Bible study services at a local congregation, please answer the questions as they pertain to your situation.
At your congregation, are there as many people who attend Bible study on Sunday morning as there are who attend worship services?
At your congregation, are there as many people who attend Sunday evening services as there are who attend worship on Sunday morning?
At your congregation, are there are many people who attend a mid-week Bible study as there are who attend Sunday morning worship service?
At your congregation, if there is a Gospel meeting or special series of lessons presented throughout the week, do as many people attend as show up for Sunday morning worship?
Are there members of your congregation who will attend Sunday morning worship and can consistently be counted on to NOT be present at any other assembly or function until the next Sunday morning worship?
Unless your congregation is incredibly special, (and if it is, I’d love to hear about it) then the answer to these questions are: no, no, no, no, yes.
It is a fact that many “church members” have a high school-student mentality when it comes to religion. By this I mean that they display the same depth of dedication as that of a student when they ask, “What do I need to pass?” Anyone who has ever taught understands that this question can be interpreted as “I don’t want to work any harder that I have to, so what is the minimum requirement so I can squeeze by?” I’ve even heard the argument made that “The Bible doesn’t say anything about attending Bible study, so I don’t have to be there.” The idea is that by attending Sunday morning worship, a person has “done their duty,” and there is nothing else to do until the next Sunday.
There is a mindset by a lot of people that “going to church” and Christianity are somehow different things. I recently read one author who exclaimed that a Christian doesn’t need to attend any sort of services unless they just want to because wherever a person is, there they can find God. This same author went on to exuberantly say that a Christian can stay in bed on Sunday morning and snuggle with their dog, and God will be OK with that since the bed and the dog become “holy ground” while the Christian is occupying it. This might seem far-fetched, but it is not very different from the rationale used by members who forego Bible study, evening services, and Gospel meetings. In these instances, the individuals see no purpose in assembling with other Christians.
First, every church member needs to understand that attendance is required … and commanded. The writer of Hebrews wrote: “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.” ( Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV)
Notice the writer DID NOT say “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together on Sunday morning.” The verse dictates that anytime the members of a congregation decide to meet, then individuals have an obligation to be there, if at all possible.
Members who ignore this commandment fail to understand that “It’s not all about me.” We attend Bible class and worship in order to serve others as much as we are served. Each person possesses gifts and talents needed by the congregation. By attending, a person brings their special collection of abilities and insights, which are denied to others by their absence. Paul Prather wrote, in the article “Sorry, but if you’re a Christian, you need to go to church. Regularly” that:
“Your fellow churchgoers will inspire and comfort you. Sure, some Christians will let you down, because they’re human and that’s what humans do. But you’ll also find disciples who’ll sit beside you in court when your kid’s up on drug charges, and who’ll hold your hand when your spouse is lying in a coffin, and who’ll bring you soup when you’re sick with the flu. When everything’s going wrong, they’ll assure you it’s going to be OK in the end, because they – and God – have your back.”
When on the road to Damascus, Saul was told by Jesus that he [Saul] was persecuting Him. Jesus had already ascended to Heaven, so how could Saul have been persecuting Him? Because Saul was hurting Christians, then he was also hurting Christ. When we honor our local congregation by being an active member, then we honor Christ. When we dishonor our congregations by ignoring our directives for fellowship, then we are dishonoring Christ. Jesus said;
“In as much as you’ve done it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you’ve done it unto me.” ( Matthew 25:40 NKJV)
If your congregation is typical of the Lord’s Church, there will be times of congregational singing. Church members will dutifully join in and sing “ Oh How I Love Jesus,” “Nearer My God to Thee,” ” I Want to Be a Worker (for the Lord),” and ” I Love Thy Kingdom Lord.” I wonder if the people who never plan on being back until the next Sunday morning worship service ever stop and think about the words in the hymnal as they are singing them?
Maybe we should add an additional song in the hymn book. We can call it Amazing Grace–Revised .
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound.
I hope it takes nothing from me!
I might have been lost, but since I’m found,
There’s nothing else to do, you see!
Though some see dangers, toils, and snares,
I have no need for fright.
Since I have grace then I am saved,
Don’t expect me back tonight.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
There’s a question I want to ask.
If I don’t see a need to sing,
Will God just let me pass?
At least, if the song leader picks that hymn, there won’t be so many lies told when we sing.
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