prod son“I can go to Heaven without going to church!”

Those are the words often spoken by the unrepentant wayfaring Christian. For whatever reason he has given up on faithfulness and now–his heart hard–he is making excuses.

 

Though the picture above is a 21st century interpretation of the prodigal son, it’s not quite accurate to this discussion. The prodigal son left the fellowship of his family, yes, but later he realized his mistake and turned around, no excuses made. Too many people refuse to follow in his footsteps. They walk away, but instead of coming to their senses, they dig in their heels and stubbornly stay away. Thus they lie to themselves and say they are alright when all signs point otherwise.

“Christianity is about a lot more than just getting together on Sundays!”

I’ve heard this excuse a lot. It tells me the one making it doesn’t understand the concept of Christianity. Ours is a life of service. We are carrying a cross, bearing a standard and treading uphill. Ours is a life of work and servitude. And at the end of it, if we have done all that was required of us, we will kneel before our King and Master without any expectations to hear “thank you.” We don’t deserve a “thank you.” HE does. But we sometimes get this entitled attitude and we try to define how we want to live our Christian life, and that usually–conveniently–leaves out gathering with brethren and worshiping the Father.

Once we understand the nature of Christianity is one of service, we won’t say things like “Christianity is about more than attendance.” Of course is about more than that! Attendance is the BARE MINIMUM of it. That’s the very LEAST you can do; to gather with brethren as commanded and–as a family–worship the Father in Heaven.

“I don’t have to go to church!”

Yes you do. You have to “go to” church. You have to be added to it, become a part of it, belong to it, because the saved are those who are added to it, have become part of it, and belong to it (Acts 2:47). But of course you mean “go to church” as in, “go to the assembly on Sundays and worship with the saints.”

You say you don’t have to assemble with fellow Christians to worship God.

You’re right. No one is making you. You don’t have to. No will will force you to assemble with fellow Christians to worship God.
You don’t have to go to Heaven…