Having To Go To Church: What a Weariness!

Have you ever been asked if you could be at a meeting, spend time with friends, or otherwise be available during a time when church services are scheduled? Most of us have or will be (repeatedly) throughout our lives. How we respond to these requests for our time is very important. Sometimes, without really thinking about it, our response includes a phrase identical or similar to, "I can't because I have to go to church." And, while it's possible that we don't really mean we "have" to go in the sense of it being a burden, we can't be guaranteed that those who hear such a response truly understand what we really meant.

Church services wherein we worship and study are occasions when we should be excited and enthused. This attitude of excitement was lacking in God's people in the time of the prophet Malachi. Malachi records the words of the people who said, "Oh, what a weariness!" in reference to their worship of God (Malachi 1:13). As we consider the frequency and attitude of our worship, we need to check as to whether or not we are approaching God with this same careless, thankless mindset.

The New Testament teaches us that we are not to "forsake the assembling of ourselves" and that we are to use assembly opportunities to "stir up love and good works" among our spiritual family members (Hebrews 10:24-25). Coming to church services must never be something we "have to do" but something we "get to do." Being together as Christians is a vital part of keeping our focus on serving each other and trying to help one another as we try to make it to heaven. If excitement for worship is replaced instead by dread and a sense of weariness, we won't please God, we won't help others, and we won't be doing anything good for ourselves.

Perhaps one final word needs to be mentioned. Our Sunday morning crowd will be bigger than our Sunday evening and Wednesday evening crowds. While there are people who will need to work certain schedules and thus miss Sunday or Wednesday nights, or others who have health problems that prevent them from being present at all of our scheduled worship services, it's safe to say that the majority of those who are at one service and not present at others have made that choice for reasons other than employment or health.

The question, then, is why? Is it because, in the words of the people in Malachi's time, worshipping God is wearisome to those who chose not to attend when they otherwise could? Is it because those who choose not to attend when they could view worship and study with the saints as a burden wherein they "have" to go to church? These things ought not be so!

Coming together to worship, to study, and to encourage each other should be a great priority for each of us. If you are one whose attendance is casual, resolve yourself to change. Realize the great part you play in the work of the Lord's church and how much good can be done from your positive change. Let each of us be determined to never view our worship of God and study of His word as that which wearies us but rather as a great blessing from Him who loves us, cares for us, and desires us to be active in His service.