by R. L. Morrison

In many communities where congregations of the New Testament church exist, there are many people who were once faithful, but now never attend services. In a few places, there seem to be more of these people that those who are faithful. Usually, it is rather difficult to engage these people in conversation about the church and their relationship to it. Some seem to think that, having been baptized, nothing more is necessary. Others may be offended at the idea of their life style being offensive to God. Many do not care to be reminded (or told) that a change is necessary if they expect eternal salvation. Let us consider some things the New Testament teaches about faithfulness.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58). "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15). "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Col. 3:2). "No man, having put his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62). "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Heb. 10:25-27).

Surely an honest study of these scriptures will convince one of the need of continual faithful living and worship of God! Read them again. Think about what they say! Then consider excuses some make for their failure to obey and worship God. Perhaps if you have been making such excuses, you will see the folly and foolishness of them, and repent.

Some say, "I quit attending because some of the people are hypocritical. They pretend to be sincere but they are not. They do not live as a Christian should." Consider, now, is there any way under heaven that this excuse will justify you? Were you converted to men or to Jesus Christ? Why do you seek to justify yourself by condemning others? Who appointed you a judge anyway? Do you want to be judged by this same standard? There may be some hypocrites in the church. If so, they make mistakes. You know the Lord does not condone hypocrisy. You know the church does not condone it. Yet, you use the weaknesses of someone else to cause you to lose your own soul.

You also know the church does not have the power to control people. This is evident, for it does not have the power to cause you to cease forsaking the assemblies, does it? Will you stand in judgment and say to Jesus Christ: "Some of your people were hypocrites, so I just could not worship and serve you?" This excuse won't work here and it won't work in judgment. What you need to do is repent, pray for forgiveness, and serve God faithfully. Why don't you do it?

But perhaps another says, "I quit because I just couldn't get anything out of church services. They are dry, uninteresting, and hard to understand. There is no point in my going." Perhaps the reason you get nothing from worship is because you put nothing into it. Before you can draw interest from a Savings and Loan Association, you must make a deposit, put something into it. This is also true of worship. If you go and sit with folded arms, never sing, never pray, eat the Lord's Supper with your mind on other things, give perhaps a dollar, and sleep through the sermon, what kind of dividend should you expect to receive? Do you think someone else can worship God for you? Think about your own duty and responsibility. Try putting more into it, and, without doubt, you will get more out of worship!

"Oh, but the seats are hard, the sermons are too long, and it is hard to sit still and pay attention for an hour." Do you apply this same kind of reasoning to any other activity in life? Is it too difficult to sit for hours watching some kind of ball game? Is it just too much to sit two hours at a movie, or any other kind of event? Can you sit in a boat for more than thirty minutes waiting for a fish to bite, or more than thirty minutes on a deer stand? Is this any different? If you think so, I agree! It shows where you have set your affections and they are not set on things above! Are these things wrong? Only when you put them before your duty and service to God! You can learn to enjoy worship as much as you enjoy a ball game or fishing or hunting! But you first must determine which is the greater value to you! But, if you consider, remember these things relate to time. Your worship and service relate to eternity. And before long you will be in eternity. For you, then, time will have ceased. And with its end, your opportunity to obtain eternal salvation will cease also!

But, says another, "I work hard all week. I need some time to rest and relax. Sunday is the only day I can do so." Or: "On Sunday, I have to mow the lawn, wash the car, or visit relatives, whom I seldom see. I need Sunday for myself." Again, it becomes a question of priorities. What do you consider the greater value: a clean car or a clean spirit? A good relationship with relatives or a good relationship with God? Jesus taught that one must deny himself to be a faithful follower (Matt. 16:24). He also said in this same context "That whosoever shall save his life shall lose it." Then he asked the question, "For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul, or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

No one denies the necessity of working to make a living. The Bible so teaches. But we seem to forget there is a great difference in making a living and making a life! To live eternally one must make preparation in this life, here and now. Quitting the Lord's church and His service is NOT the way to prepare for eternity in God's presence. He who feels he can follow his own will and be saved eternally is self deceived.

The easiest thing in the world to do is just quit. Anybody can do it. Many do, for quitters are found everywhere. There are many quitters whose names are found in the membership lists of local congregations. But no quitters names are found in God's Book, which will be opened in the day of judgment (Heb. 12:23). If your name is found in God's book in that day, it will be because you repented of your sin of negligence and sought God's forgiveness! Then you must be faithful unto death to receive the crown of life!

Many say, "I do not need someone to tell me what I need to do. I know it. I am going to try to do better." That's great! If you know what you need to do, why don't you do it now? When do you intend to begin to live the kind of life you promised God you would live? Will you wait until it is too late? The scripture teaches "Today is the day of salvation. If you will hear his voice, harden not your heart" (Heb. 3:7-8). Do not wait to turn to God the day before you die. You do not know the day of your departure from this life. But you do know it is certain that you will die. Every living thing is subject to death. And the scripture says, "It is appointed unto man once to die" (Heb. 9:27).

The problems and trials that are your lot in life cannot be solved by quitting God and forsaking the church. In fact, this action only adds to them. Those problems can be overcome, with the help of God, if you will just recognize this and work at it. Jesus Christ, as a man, was confronted with every temptation that Satan presents to us today. He successfully resisted, and so can one today who will make the effort. But when we sin, we have the assurance that we can be forgiven, if we want forgiveness.

Why not determine to abandon all the excuses you have been offering yourself and others for your unfaithfulness? Why not return to faithful service in the church? Why not consider your relationship to God a precious possession, worth more than all the material things you can amass in life? Why not determine NOW to return to your Heavenly Father? Why not get up and do it NOW?