Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, many churches in the United States have had more visitors than pastors and priests have seen in a long time. An article in the Boston Herald reported: “Boston area clergy say they have seen a dramatic increase in attendance at religious services since the bombings… Several special services held throughout the Bay State drew standing only crowds…With less than two hours notice, more than 5,000 people attended services at the Memorial Church at Harvard Yard, the evening of September 11” (“Sanctuary,” Boston Herald, September 24, 2001).
If we look back to Biblical times, we see that “churchgoing” was the custom. In Leviticus 23:3, for example, God commanded His people: “Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation.” Part of the Sabbath day should be dedicated to a “convocation”—an assembly or gathering.
But what are we supposed to “do there”? What is the Biblical example? Look in the book of Hebrews. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:23–25).
This is not just talking about having social activities together—meeting at Little League baseball games or at the exercise club. This means assembling together as a congregation on God’s Sabbath. We all need people. And we need to gather together with people who are of like mind—of the same values and beliefs. When we do, we encourage each other. We need a time and a place where we can be “spiritually at home”—at ease—not having to be so much on guard. It is good to be a light to the world around us, but we need to be recharged as well. When we gather together with other people who are committed and dedicated to living God’s way of life, we are comforted and encouraged. And this is what God had in mind when he instructs us to have a “holy convocation”—a “Church service.”
Just “fellowshipping” is not enough. We need to be learning what God has to say to us through His Word at the Church service. We do not go to hear the ideas or opinions of the speaker. We should not go to be entertained by the speaker. Church is not MTV or I Love Lucy! This is a time when the focus should be on the Word of God, the wisdom of God and the way of God.
In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul called the Church the pillar and ground of “truth”—not of interesting opinions of men, and not of the ideas of men, but the guardian of the truth. The Church service is the place where that truth is reviewed, rehearsed and refreshed in our minds. Paul told Timothy: “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14–17).
When the message at the Church service is inspired by God, and is drawn from His Word, it provides us with the tools to help us live our lives as Christians. If we do not show up to “collect our tools,” we are defenseless against the negative influences that can drag us down. If we only show up once in a while, we are poorly equipped, and poorly trained. But if we are dedicated to learning more about God’s way of life, He has provided us with the opportunity.
The above is a condensation of a commentary that can be found in its unabridged form on the Church Web page, www.livingcog.org, in the Commentary Library, along with many other commentaries on key topics facing our world.