If you are a member of a local church, I hope that this post will help you realize how important it is for you to be there whenever you possibly can.Now I know that most folks think that most pastors (notice the generalization?) just want people to be present because they like preaching to a full house instead of an empty house. And while that may be true, there are also many other reasons that it's important.
Hebrews 10:25 says, "Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer" (CEV). God is the Creator of the Church and He knows that His people need to be together in His presence on a regular basis.
The tragic reality is that church attendance in America is steadily declining. David Olson, Director of Church Planting for the Evangelical Covenant Church, has conducted nationwide surveys. Olson reports that in 1990, only 20.4% of Americans attended church on any given weekend, in 2000, only 18.8% and in 2004, only 17.7% of Americans regularly attended church.
Perhaps we would all do well to remember the words of Father Henri Nouwen: "I have yet to meet anyone who has come closer to Jesus by forsaking the Church. I know that isn’t a popular bit of advice at a time and in a country where the church is frequently seen more as an ‘obstacle’ in the way rather than as the ‘way’ to Jesus."
Hope to see ya' in church on Sunday!
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