MATTER OF CONSCIENCE

 

      Faithful attendance at ALL services of the church is a matter of conscience for those who desire to go to heaven. With hearts focused on the cross, conscience will not allow a person who truly loves God to willfully forsake even one assembly.

 

      ATTENDANCE IS A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE BECAUSE OF GOD'S COMMANDS: The Hebrew writer shows that Chris­tians should never be guilty of willfully forsaking the assembly. (Hebrews 10:24-31) Conscience would not allow this! "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 10:24-25)

 

      ATTENDANCE IS A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE BECAUSE OF LOVE: "Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37.) Conscience would not allow one who loves God to forsake the assembly just to seek pleasure.  Conscience would not allow one to forsake the assembly because of vacation, family get-to-gathers or out of town company.  Conscience would not allow one to forsake the assembly for travel or for a sickness which would not keep you from work on Monday. Attendance is a matter of conscience.

     

     ATTENDANCE IS A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE BECAUSE OF A DESIRE FOR GOD'S APPROVAL: Is God concerned if you just "sleep in" on Sunday and do not attend Bible class? Is God bothered if you forsake the as­sembly for company or vacation? Does God mind if you just stay home and rest? Faithful attendance is a matter of conscience for the Christian because of a desire to please God. What about your conscience? Is faithful attendance a matter of conscience with you?

      Answer the following questions with Bible answers: (1) is it a sin to willfully miss even one service of the church? (2) Are all the services of the church important? (3) Is a person faithful if he willfully misses even one service of the church? (4) Why should I attend all services of the church? (5) What is my responsibility to the church and its assemblies? (6) Will I be lost if I do not attend all the services faithfully?

 

By Charles Box, Walnut Street Church of Christ, P.O. Box 551, Greenville, Alabama 36036 USA

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