"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase"
1 Corinthians 3:6
A Message From the Horne of Africa
"I Never Intended To Quit.”
05 03 2009
Long-time gospel preacher, Gus Nichols, is reported to have written the following incident:
A man who had not attended one service of the church in four years told me he had never thought of "quitting" the church. I reminded him that he had already (1) withdrawn his presence from its services, (2) refused to give his moral support to the activities of the congregation, and (3) had withdrawn his financial support, for he had not given one dime to help carry on the Lord's work.
I asked: "What else would one have to do in order to 'quit' the church? In case you ever decided that you no longer desire to be a member, what other steps would it be necessary for you to take? Just what else would be necessary to 'quit' the church?"
As his true status dawned upon him, his expression reflected his sober thoughts. He replied, "Why, brother Nichols, I've already quit, haven't I? Well, I surely didn't mean to! And I don't know when I did it...but I've quit the Lord and His church! I'll tell you right now: I'm coming back!" He did, too. At the next service he was restored, and three years later he was still faithful.
Dear reader, how about you? Have you quit the Lord and His church without resolving to do so? Perhaps no one deliberately decides to quit, while many carelessly drift into backsliding. If you have (1) quit attending the services, (2) quit boosting the program of activities planned by the elders, and (3) quit giving as God has prospered you to enable the congregation to meet its budget--you need to be restored.
Contrary to popular contemporary opinion, the early church met regularly. All indications are that they loved it. They met many more times than we do. Since many of the visitors to Jerusalem had just been converted, they needed to be grounded in the faith. So, guess what they did? "Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts," Acts 2:46. Earlier in the text, their deep devotion is described. "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer," Acts 2:42. Attending worship services was not seen as an unpleasant chore to be endured or tolerated. The 3,000 of Acts 2 quickly increased beyond 5,000, Acts 4:4. They had an appetite for spiritual food. They hungered after righteousness.
Why is attendance so necessary and important? (1) It is the easiest of Christian duties. Hebrews 10:25 admonishes us not to forsake the assemblies. Both the multi-talented and those of limited ability can perform that task. (2) It is the time when we grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus, 2 Peter 3:18. When people miss the assemblies, they do not sit at home and study the word. They do secular things. The sacred is forgotten. Have you ever wondered why our world is so secular rather than devoted? Many Christians have led the way in revealing to the world that attendance is an optional extra in Christianity. So the world is NOT converted and we are not edified. (3) It is a time when we can provoke one another to love and good works, Hebrews 10:24. During fellowshipping with each other before and after the period of corporate worship, we talk and visit. During those times we build each other up. We listen, we learn, we love. (4) It sets the right example for those young or new in the faith. Jesus never missed an assembly, see Luke 4:16. In Acts, Paul made special provision to be where Christians were assembling, 20:6-7. Both Paul and Jesus ask us to emulate their example, 1 Corinthians 11:1 and 1 Peter 2:16. I have never known a person who is weak about assembling to be very active in other areas of Christianity.
We have some of the finest teachers in the brotherhood. Their lessons are outstanding, inspirational and informative. Like Jesus once asked in another context, I often feel like asking, "Where are the nine?" Or perhaps I should ask, "Where are the ninety and nine?" If you choose to miss those lessons, you are missing out on faith-building material and you are also discouraging the effort of that devoted teacher. Our teachers put a great deal into their lessons--like a mother who puts nourishing food on the table. If the children don't arrive for the meal, the impact of the lesson is diminished. Neglecting attendance is the slippery edge of the wedge that finds one sliding away from Christian fellowship and ultimately to a barren faith. Please, don't let that happen here. "A church that prays together, stays together."
Love you all,
Al--"the Horne of Africa."