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Why is Church Attendance Essential? By: Garland M. Robinson |
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Why is Church Attendance Essential? By: Garland M. Robinson |
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The Bible commands it! Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his righteousness...." FIRST doesn’t mean second or third, it means above and before everything else!
Regardless of a person’s view on things, what is right is God’s way, not what seems right to men. Listen to the scriptures: “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 10:23). "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father..." (Matthew 7:21). "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say" (Luke 6:46)? God’s way is for his people to assemble and worship him according to the pattern of the New Testament!
Jesus came to this world to redeem men from their sins. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:11-14). Those who have “obeyed the gospel” have been purchased out of the world into a new life in Christ (IICorinthians 5:17). We should therefore walk worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1). Our attention is now focused on righteousness instead of ourselves (Matthew 6:33). Those who work righteousness are accepted with God (Acts 10:35).
Church attendance is essential in working righteousness because it is putting spiritual things first! Hebrews 10:25 commands, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together...." If and when one seeks righteousness, where else would he desire to be that could be of greater benefit? How can it be said that one is putting the kingdom FIRST when he chooses to be somewhere else at church time? Remember, the church is made up of the saved, not the lost. We have been “called out of the world” (IPeter 2:9). It is the church the Lord is coming back to save (Ephesians 5:23).