Does This Make Sense to You?

Over the years I have noticed a strange phenomenon.

I have seen this phenomenon enough times to know that it is true, but it still doesn’t make any sense to me.

Here’s the strange behavior. After Easter less people attend church than before Easter.

This happens regularly where I lead. I have noticed it repeatedly over the years.

You can immediately see why I think of this as being strange. Wouldn’t you expect people to attend more after Easter?

Wouldn’t it make more sense to increase your commitment after Easter? Wouldn’t you think that having realized what Christ did for us on the cross and how God showed His power by raising Jesus that people would become more aware of their need for spending time with God?

No wonder the writer of Hebrews admonished the people of His day to consider what Christ had done for them. He also asked them not to neglect the assembly of the people of God. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23-25).

The more we reflect on the work of Christ on our behalf and the closer we get to the return of the Lord the more we need one another.

As you see the coarsening of our culture, the more you can tell we need to join with other believers to worship and grow in our love of the Lord Jesus.

There’s another strange phenomenon. In America, church attendance has decreased not because less people attend church–that’s what you would think–but because church attenders attend less. In other words, we are so distracted by the world that we place church meetings lower on our list of priorities. We camp, go to ballgames, or simply stay home instead of committing to a week by week meeting with God’s family.

The Apostle John warned us about being ashamed when the Lord returns. My wife Martha has always said you don’t want to be sitting in front of a video poker machine when the Lord returns. You also don’t want to be neglecting the worship of God and the fellowship of the saints.

Let me encourage you to do things that make sense–things like church attendance and attention to the spiritual disciplines. Let me ask you to seriously consider where you are before God.

It’s time to reverse your neglect.

I write daily for the people of God. If you would like to join this group, you can receive your free subscription by signing up in the box below.


 

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One Response

  1. Thanks for this message. It hits home. Somebody else said “if you got enough Jesus to get to heaven then you got enough Jesus to get to church”

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