Tuesday, 14 July 2009

• Mega, Micro, Multi-site...

  What is the deal with the attack on large churches these days?  Sure we all have our opinions, but I have to wonder "what's up with that?".  A recent post on Revlife really go my dander up today - because they chose to pick on my home church, Calvary Chapel, Fort Lauderdale.  Now, since this is the place where I was radically saved from the pit of hell - and I DO mean that with all my heart, I will have to admit, I'm like a mama-bear when it comes to folks taking potshots at my beloved CCFTL.

  I'm the first to take issue with a church just 'playing church', or a place where you can come and hide out.  But you don't have to be in a Mega or Multi-site church for that to happen.  (Although I will admit it is easier).  You could be, say, Liberty University and have someone hanging out in your midst just checking you out for their next book (Unlikely Disciple) or a little church on the corner where the cliques are generations old and the seats are saved, but the people are not.  You might be in a 'wanna-be' mega church, with an abusive pastor acting like he's a demigod. One who is too busy to be bothered shepherding the flock he's been given; instead using all his time to copy the words and style of another mega-church leader's sermons. 

  So I guess, my point is this - there are enough reasons NOT to go to church, if you're looking for them.  But how about the one reason TO go to church:  We are directed to do so in the Word.  "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 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. 10:23-25)

  I found this article which may be of some help - if you've wandered from the flock. (See my earlier post about safety in numbers.) If you are dissatisfied with your current (or former) church - take heart!  There are few good ones out there - keep on looking - and give up your preconceived notions! 
  I believe I heard it this way...  "seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened to you".

   

   Is Church Attendance Necessary?

  

  Considering the lax attitudes of many religious people today, it would be easy to conclude that church attendance is optional or perhaps only for those who are very religious and extremely dedicated to their faith. Membership rosters in most churches, compared to actual numbers in attendance, usually tells the story of people's attitude. We do not hold the position that church attendance is optional. The Bible and common sense teach us that church attendance is not just a smart thing, it is a necessary thing.

  Not Forsaking

  "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 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. 10:23-25)

  These words were written to people who were close to losing their faith in Christ. Something had to be done. Some of them were habitually forsaking the meetings of the church. The Hebrew writer came right to the point. He told them not to forsake the assembly. Look closely at the verses. Notice that church attendance has to do with holding fast without wavering, stimulating ourselves and others to love and good deeds, and encouraging one another. It is the experience of the writer of this article that those who forsake the assembly exhibit the very opposite tendencies. They waver in their faith (some fall away from it), they stimulate no one to love and good deeds, and they get increasingly more discouraged in their faith. One cannot say he or she lives by the teaching of the Bible and willingly forsake the assembly of Christians.

  Pillar and Support

  "I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." (1 Timothy 3:14-15)

  The church is the assembly of God's people. Notice its role in the above verses. It is "the pillar and support of the truth." If you take away the church, you take away the pillar and support of the truth in your life. Collapse of faith is inevitable. One cannot forsake the assembly and stay strong in the truth.

  This Do In Remembrance

  "And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.'" (Luke 22:19)

  This command of Jesus refers to communion or the Lord's supper. The early church, directed by the Apostles of Jesus, met regularly for communion. The one who forsakes the assembly disregards this command. Elsewhere Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves." (John 6:53) While some might argue that this does not refer directly to the Lord's supper, where else is the eating of His flesh and drinking His blood fulfilled in the Christian walk? He who forsakes the assembly forsakes the remembrance of the Lord's supper. It isn't long before the outcome of "no life" becomes reality.

  They Keep Watch

  "Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you." (Hebrews 13:17)

  A responsibility of church leaders is to keep watch over the souls of church members. These leaders will someday give an account for their work. Such work is difficult enough when Christians assemble regularly and are in contact with one another. Can you imagine the complication when members are seldom or never present? If church leaders are expected to assume responsibility for such oversight, church members need to assume responsibility for regular attendance. We feel strongly about this. Members who chronically forsake the assembly with no good reason are admonished to return. If this is disregarded, they may be dropped from membership. Remove a fish from the water. He may flop around on the shore for awhile, but ultimately he dies. Remove a coal from the fireplace. It glows for awhile, but ultimately it dies. Remove a Christian from the assembly of other Christians. Though he may continue in faith for awhile, ultimately he dies.

  What To Do

  If you have forsaken the assembly of Christians, we encourage you to take these steps:

  	Decide to return immediately. Let church leaders know of your decision. Make this a once-for-all lifetime decision, not a weekly one.
  	Adjust your schedule so that regular church attendance is a part of your life. If your work schedule conflicts, share your problem with church leaders. They and the congregation can pray with you for a resolution of the conflicts.
  	Return to the assembly. Church attendance is not an optional matter. It is a way of life. Make it a habit. See you in the assembly...

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