The Truth In Print, Volume 11 Issue 9, October 2005.
A
Publication of the Valley
Telling Members They Are Sinning In Deliberately Missing
Church
By Bob W. Lovelace
Question: If you gathered together a list of excuses as to why members of a local church
will “neglect” their collective duty to attend and participate in both the
worship and works of the local church what would it include? From all over
members who strive to fulfill their duty are saying that the excuses would be
such as:
1. I don’t think I need to come on Wednesday evening, even though I could,
and besides I have things I prefer doing.
2. If we want to stay home and read the Bible on our own we can. It is the
preacher who is paid to be there not us. And often we don’t need that
particular class or care for the particular teacher.
3. Sunday night worship time interferes with my children’s supper time.
Some also say that Wednesday night my kids need to rest and be fresh for school
the next day.
4. Some might say their work schedule changed but be the one responsible
for the change in order that they might free some time for golf, fishing, or
hunting, etc.
5. All I have to do is be there for the Lord’s Supper and I have fulfilled
my duty to God. (Note: There are many now in some places that are getting by
with doing just that. What happened to their duty to fellow members?)
6. I had one Liberal preacher tell me that a young couple in their church
here in town actually told the elders that they would not be there Sunday
mornings because that was their family’s “quality time” together. They assured
them, however, that they would always be there on Sunday evenings. (Note: I replied, “And your elders accepted
that?”)
The list could go on and on, thus I will stop with the above. In regard
to the above and more a few preachers and teachers are willing to say that
churches are openly tolerating sin in regards to those who offer excuses and do not fulfill
their duty as a member to assemble when they can.
It appears that some, though, would assign “blame” to those who actually
are attending as they are able with implications that suggest if it was more
interesting and enthusiastic then the problem would be solved. Excuses aside
(And that is what all of the foregoing are, including the immediate above
paragraph blaming the faithful.) how do you go about correcting carnal and
slothful (lazy) members in the Lord's service who fail in assembling when they
can?
Realize The Unfaithfulness Of The Church As A “Whole”
First you realize that the unfaithfulness of the church as whole is in
NOT dealing with those who are unfaithful in their attendance. We know brethren that there is an obligation on
the part of the church to make sure of
any particular member's faithfulness, and thus not to be guilty of allowing
unfaithfulness (Cf. Rev. 2:20; 2:14, 15; I Cor. 5:2; etc.). Within this
"common" membership there is a mutual obligation to the work and
worship of the church (Acts 9:28; 11:26; 13:1; I Cor. 11:18, 23; Eph. 5:18-21,
I Pet. 5:2-3, etc.), with its own oversight and decision making based on
"sound doctrine" (Acts 14:23; I Tim. 2:11-12; Titus 1:9, etc.).
Those in error are to be warned and exposed or convicted of their sin (I
Th. 5:14; Heb. 10:25-27). Warning the unruly and convicting of error is the
right attitude for those who assemble to have towards those who do not fulfill
their duty and obligation to be there as a member when they can. The mutual
obligation to ensure each member lives right before God at times involves some
identifying to others their sins (2 Tim.
4:1-5, rebuke by those preaching and teaching publicly; I Thess. 5:14, warn the
unruly; Gal. 6:1, restore those overtaken in a trespass; I Cor. 5:1ff, mourning
sin and judging sinners and if necessary removing them; James 5:20, turning
back the sinner; Jude 23, pulling some out of the fire; etc.).
Fear Is The Main Reason
The main reason that there is an obvious (manifest) attendance problem
in so many churches is that the members themselves are afraid of disciplining
for fear losing numbers, finances, status, etc. The "family"
connection within a local church can also be a deterrent - how dare you talk to
one of "my family" about their attendance. Both fear and carnal pride
paralyzes churches! Thus they allow worldly members to come in, set their own
non-scriptural attendance standards (We don't feel like we need to be in Bible
classes; We want you to know that we “will not come” Sunday mornings for this
is our "quality family time"; The mother who lets the men of the
church and her own husband know that her kids need their rest on Wed. evening
to be fresh for school the next day, but when school is out whose kids still
need their rest; etc.), and dare the church to think otherwise! Moreover, it is
a fact that many slothful wicked members just lie about being sick,
"having" to work, etc.
Correction begins by the church, as a church, making a list of those not
attending, and then men or elders if they have them contacting these members to
find out why. When the sinner gives an excuse (We all know what they are and
some have already been mentioned. ) or excuses, and it is obvious that they
just do not want to take time to come because of some material lust or laziness
, and it will be manifested (Gal. 5:19), then they are warned and told that the
church expects them to repent of this immediately. If they repent immediately
when confronted, Great! (Acts 8:24; Gal. 2:14). But should they resist the
truth about their duty and obligation as a member then the church needs to be
told as a whole immediately.
Friend, read carefully about the wicked and lazy servant in Matt. 25:18,
24-30. Compare this to those in the days of Noah who did not know that God
would not show leniency in Matt. 24:37-39. Also read the excuses for not
attending the Great Supper in Lk. 14:16-24. Now note the “final outcome” or
“end” for the “evil servant” who had talents to use in the Kingdom but didn’t
in Matt. 24:44-51. Be aware that the “evil servant” in Matt. 24 is followed by
the “five foolish virgins” who were “not ready” in Matt. 25. What was the final
“end” for them? Return to the excuses in Lk. 14 and note now the final “end”
for them.
Warning: usually those who have set their "own" unscriptural
standard for attendance, and who have been allowed to get by with it for some
time, and who do not love the doctrine of Christ, will begin working carnally
against whom ever they think is responsible for their sin being made known. So,
do this as a church and do not put some lone member out there to be abused
should Satan go to work. No one can be more bitter and set against the truth
than members, both young and old, and widowed, who have been left with their
excuses for years rather than being dealt with.
Withdrawal
Brethren, if such continue in their carnality, slothfulness and
disobedience in fulfilling this mutual obligation members have in the work and
worship of the church which includes attending the church's bible classes and
the assemblies when they can be then they are to be withdrawn from (I Th. 4:15;
2 Th. 3:6).
The Some Of The
Time’s Value Excuse
Although some will say they are wrong for missing services they offer
the excuse that the “some of the time” they do come grants the possibility of
their learning they should attend all of the time, while trying to qualify the
“some” to be at least not once or twice a year but just on Sunday morning.
Abusing The Individual’s Fellowship
Between One’s Self And God
Also, I'm seeing those who are abusing the "fellowship" that
exists between an individual Christian and God ( “I like to just study at home during time for worship on Wed.
night.” See pt. No. 2 ) in order that they might offer a lame duck excuse
(sinful) for missing the "fellowship" requirement that exists between
Christians in each local church (This goes back to a former point about
"common membership" and duty to the church's work and worship.).
God’s People Should Be Told Their Sins!
In truth all the members, not just elders and teachers, should know that God's people should be told of
their transgressions. If you know that any member is pleasing their own self
and could be in services but just doesn't choose to be there, by all means then
tell them their sin! Are you afraid to do that?
To give emphasis to the preacher's and teacher's ability to tell them their
sin consider the below as it relates to those who chose to please themselves
rather than God. Notice their contradiction in what they say they seek and
delight in and what they really are doing. I’ve bold faced a few words for
emphasis.
Isaiah 58:1-14
"Cry loudly, do not hold back;
Raise your voice like a trumpet,
And declare
to My people their transgression,
And to the house of Jacob their sins.
[2] "Yet
they seek Me day by day, and delight to know My ways,
As a nation that has done
righteousness,
And has not forsaken the ordinance of
their God.
They ask Me for just decisions,
They delight in the nearness of God.
[3] 'Why have we fasted and Thou dost
not see?
Why have we humbled ourselves and Thou
dost not notice?'
Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire,
And drive hard all your workers. ...
13] "If because of the sabbath, you
turn your foot
From doing your own pleasure on My holy day,
And call the sabbath a delight, the
holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor it, desisting from your own ways,
From seeking your own pleasure,
And speaking your own word,
[14] Then you will take delight in the
Lord,
And I will make you ride on the heights
of the earth;
And I will feed you with the heritage
of Jacob your father,
For the mouth of the Lord has
spoken."
Those in
rebellion choose their own way: “He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man;
he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an
oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he
blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own
ways, and their soul delighteth in their
abominations (Isa. 66:3). Those who had been guilty of tolerating immorality
allowed God’s people to choose their own ways and delight in them! God said, “I
have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
(Isa. 65:2).