According to church surveys, answers to the above question vary widely. They include:
- I feel guilty when I miss. My parents make me go.
- It helps my faith. I run the P.A. or lighting system.
- I like the preacher. The services inspire me.
- To stay out of hell. I’m in the choir or band.
- My spouse expects me to go. I like the music (especially in churches
featuring instrumental music or choirs.) - I love the Lord. Nothing better to do.
- My friends attend. To encourage and comfort others.
- My boyfriend (or girlfriend) attends. Jesus would do it.
- I’m lonely. It makes me feel closer to God.
While not all of the above reasons for attending church are acceptable to God, some are, including: - I love the Lord. Jesus would do it.
- It makes me feel closer to God. It helps my faith.
- The services inspire me. To encourage and comfort others.
So why do you attend church?
There’s a story about a church in East Texas that had several oil wells on their property. Church leaders typically distributed surplus income from the wells among the members on a particular Sunday each year. The only stipulation was that, unless hospitalized, members had to be present on that particular Sunday to receive their share. It goes without saying that attendance on the selected Sunday was typically 100%. Few if any ever missed due to working late on Saturday, unexpected company, insomnia, headaches, colds, sick kids or not hearing the alarm.
Few of us can attend every service 52 weeks out of the year. Hopefully, however, our passion for worshipping God, remembering Jesus, and our love for one another will keep us coming. Perhaps David of old said it best, “Better is one day in Your courts that a thousand elsewhere” (Psa 84:10).
Jesus, always Jesus! Dennis