Over the past two years, I have spoken with many different leaders at a multitude of different congregations, and all have stated how their attendance at the regularly scheduled services is down. Many congregations during the height of SARS-COV 2 (Commonly referred to as COVID-19 in the mainstream https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/types.html) stopped meeting in order to safeguard the membership from potential exposure. But now that the threat has passed and doors have reopened, many are not coming back or are not coming back for every occasion. Many congregations have started meeting again in slow stages, starting with AM worship, then later maybe adding back PM services, then eventually a mid-week meeting and classes. This is perhaps a contributing factor as individuals might misconstrue the order by which many congregations reemerged as an order of priority…’Well, they brought back AM worship first, so that must be the most important one for me to show up at, and the rest are not as important.’
I have labeled this phenomenon as COVID Apathy. It has infiltrated many aspects of people’s lives and has affected different individuals with varying levels of potency. During the height of the pandemic, a great number of people became isolated and cut off and, in the course of time, grew comfortable in their new way of life. Once the overarching threat and scare of the pandemic passed, they found themselves in a state of apathy with regard to many activities they had previously engaged in pre-pandemic…like faithfully attending all services of the congregation of which they are a member.
One key to a successful Christian life is regular attendance to services. It is commanded by Scripture, upheld by believers, and approved by the conscience. It is a natural consequence of conversion. Neglecting it is universally regarded as an indication of indifference.
Has anyone ever raised an objection to faithful attendance? Has anyone ever cataloged its dangers or hinted it might be detrimental to our faith? Our leaders have consistently encouraged attendance at every service because they know it is wise. The danger is in our failing to heed their advice. Even non-Christians recognize a commitment is made when one decides to follow Christ. They recognize regular attendance is called for, and when they don’t see it on the part of a Christian who can attend but who does not, they conclude he is not living up to their calling or, perhaps worse—that the calling itself is not worth very much.
No one suffers from a guilty feeling because they meet with the saints to honor God, study His word, or engage in an activity with fellow Christians. The conscience approves it. There are guilty feelings when a sincere follower of Christ neglects to meet with the saints, as many can verify by personal experience. Every effort to justify an absence when there is no valid reason at hand for an absence proves we know deep within us we should attend.
What happens when an individual falls into the habit of not attending the various services of the Church?
1. They contradict their profession of faith by failing to put Christ first. (Matthew 6:33)
2. They wound their conscience in rejection of a command of God. (Hebrews 10:25)
3. They make the congregation smaller and weaker. (Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27)
4. They may lead some non-members (perhaps even a member of their own family) to think that spiritual things are not important. (Matthew 5:13-16; Philippians 2:12-16)
We must remember that the decision to attend or not to attend is essentially a personal decision that must be made by each individual. Perhaps others will be faithful if we set the example, but whether they do or don’t, we must resolve to be faithful because it is the will of God for us.
“And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—IF INDEED YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, GROUNDED AND STEADFAST, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I Paul, became a minister.” (Colossians 1:21-23)
(Carl Hartman is the Minister at Main Street Church of Christ in Lockney)
