It’s kind of funny … Well, not really. You see a friend. Someone you’ve missed at church. You mention to them that you’ve missed them … (CATCH-22 alert!!! If you DON’T say anything, they might get mad as well) Anyway, you mention it and they immediately get defensive: I had a headache … I just don’t feel welcomed … My dog ate my dress shoes … The excuse really doesn’t matter.
Neither does perfect attendance!! (WHAT?!?!? Wait …) Does St. Peter have his heavenly iPad out to keep your record of church attendance?? Will you be asked about that when you approach the proverbial Pearly Gates?? (How did my dog swallow an entire pair of shoes???)
WHAT DOES IT MATTER?
In my opinion (THIS and two dollars WILL buy you a cup of coffee at Bojangles), our attendance patterns DO NOT MATTER. But THEY DO. NO, no one in Heaven will likely ask you about your percentage of attendance. But there is something deeper at stake here. Something important. Something with eternal consequence.
It’s not your ATTENDANCE that is the question, but what is your level of ENGAGEMENT with the Body of Christ? Are you participating in what WE, THE CHURCH, are called to BE?? Are called to DO?? If you are … If you are plugging into a growing relationship with Christ, WILD HORSES CANNOT STOP YOU FROM BEING THERE!!! You CRAVE time with other growing Christians. The scary part about this is that we must make ourselves vulnerable when we do this. We open ourselves up for accountability. In turn, we need to be strong and help others.
It’s called BEING FAMILY. Look it up.
Much like a guest speaker shared a few weeks ago at Ebenezer, IT IS A PRIVILEGE to serve GOD!!! SHE IS RIGHT!! If it is a chore to you, there is something wrong with your relationship. Plain and simple. Churches just like Ebenezer are purposed to be the FAMILY of GOD, the BODY OF CHRIST together. To help each other. To reach the lost. To serve with all of our hearts.
DOES IT REALLY MATTER?? OF COURSE IT DOES!! Do not fall for the lies … KNOW THE TRUTH!! HE WILL SET YOU FREE!!
The Random Thinker 