Musick-al Note # 261
When one willfully misses worship he is disobeying a plain command of God. The Holy Spirit directed, “Not forsaking the assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much toe more, as you see the day drawing nigh” (Hebrews 10:25) and there is more, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.” To sin is a very dangerous thing’ to sin willfully is more dangerous. In the Old Testament, the willful sin found no forgiveness (Numbers 15:30-31).
One demonstrates very little regard for the church when he deliberately stays away from worship. Christ loved the church enough to die for it. The willful absentee shows by his absence that he has precious little love for the church — not even enough to attend the services. When the professed Christian deliberately misses worship, he is certainly setting a poor example for new converts, for his children, for other children and for all concerned. A willful absentee says, “Worship is not very important to me; other things are more important.” When one absents himself from the services, he makes it very clear that he is not interested in his priesthood. The Christian is a priest; he has a priestly function. No one can officiate for God in “offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” 1 Peter 2:5. Staying away willfully weakens the soul. It discourages brethren. It injures the church. It disheartens the elders. It depresses the minister. It makes it impossible for that one to teach children and neighbors how very important the church really is. Most importantly, Christ must be disappointed when His disciple fails to appear. Every disciple has an appointment with the Master. The true Christian will keep his appointment. “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). The great, loving heart of Christ is surely grieved as He beholds the willful disobedience and shameful indifference of many who profess to follow Him.
In addition to the above, willful absence declares the true state of love within the absentee. The less one loves the Lord, the less concerned he will be with meeting with the lord. The more one misses, the less his love for the Master who will be present in the assembly. Conversely, one who truly loves the Lord will obey all His commands. (Including the one to meet with the saints when He will be present). If a boy declares his love for a girl, and then spends all his time with another, none would believe that boy’s declarations of love. The same is true with the disciple of Christ who claims to love the Lord, yet spends all his time with the world.
Gordon Musick
Musick-al Notes 