Are there Scriptures that tell us

[BrotherTony]

In the past few weeks there's been a lot of discussion amongst many of my friends and acquaintances about church attendance and how often is required. There are several who attend church very often, but not every service, who have been confronted by several other of our friends and their fellow church members because they don't always attend church every time the doors are open. They live Godly, Christian lives, tithe, witness, and have won many souls to the Lord over the years, yet, because they don't live up to someone else's expectations and beliefs on church attendance, are being equated with backslidden Christians, and even have been compared to the unsaved. There are many who attend church every time the doors are open, and who look down on those who don't, having a rod of pride in their approach to their brothers and sisters in Christ, just as a Pharisee would have done, gauging their standing by the works they do. All that being said, I believe if one is physically able to be in church and can be, not being providentially hindered, they should be. In my own case, my wife and I are not always able to be in church because of our health challenges. We've been treated as I described above, by many, but we've also gotten a lot of emotional support concerning these challenges and the situations they bring. 

So, I know most go back to and throw out Hebrews 10:25 as a proof text. Then they also bring up the fact that it was the custom of Jesus to be in the synagogues. But, how often? With all of his travel and preaching open air, was he always in the synagogues? We already know that the answer is no. So scriptures providing evidence that one needs to be in service every time the doors are opened? Thank you in advance.

BT

[MikeWatson1]

As my old pastor once said.. 'you can't legislate faithfulness '

A church could measure someone's faithfulness in numbers.. like how many times gone soul winning, how many times attended church service, bible study etc etc..

But then it's without context. And what if they keep up a level of attendance in service, bible study etc.. but are shallow in their faith? Like 'look at me, look at what I'm doing' but their heart for God is icy or superficial.

Like ticking boxes of performance without heart.

 

 

 

Edited December 4, 2023 by MikeWatson1
There Vs their 😎

[R Sauter]

I am an absolute believer in Heb 10:25 and the prior verse (24) tells us why we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

Understanding it properly in its context, one should understand that assembling together is important and should be done as often as possible. It does not necessarily mean "Every time the doors are open" and shame on anyone who would shame others for not being as "faithful" as they are! There are many different circumstances such as people working odd shifts in the service and retail industries as well as those working in healthcare, law enforcement, and so forth. As an owner of a Care Agency, I have clients that require 24/7 care which means I have to schedule someone to take care of them on Sundays during Church and some of our employees are members of our Church so what to do? I try as best as I can to rotate things around so they do not miss every Sunday! As a predominantly Filipino congregation, there are many who work as nurses and so forth so this is a situation for which we are well accustomed. We have live streaming of our services as well as "small groups" to keep everyone as connected as possible.

Also, how many times do you go to a Church expecting fellowship and encouragement among the brethren to be sorely disappointed pretty much feeling "all alone" among a "sea of strangers with familiar faces" and some unregenerate, self-serving, deadbeat pastor who will not study and properly prepare something that is substantive and edifying to those who name the name of Christ? Far too many of these "Seeker-Sensitive Mega-Churches" fill up the pews with goats who then run off the sheep! As a Child of God, you earnestly desire to follow and obey the mandate of Heb 10:24-25 but cannot find such believers to assemble with?