Getting to Church on Time

[Greg Merrill]

I wrote this some time ago, but thought some on CF might benefit from it.

I have always felt that it is better to come late to church than not to come at all, but it is also better to come on time, or maybe even a little earlier, than to come late. No matter what time, early or late, one should come with a mind already in tune with God. Not being in tune with God is no excuse for not coming to church. If one is not in tune with God, they shouldn't decide not to come to church, they should decide to get in tune with God! They need to hear the word of God more than one who is already in tune with God. Do some people intentionally come late because they don't want to socialize before the service starts, they don't want to hear the welcome and prayer, they don't want to hear the announcements, and they don't want to worship God in Song" Do they just want to hear a sermon, and then leave as soon as possible. Imagine if God didn't even consider that as attending church; or suppose He prorated your blessings. For example, if you are at church for the "whole" service, you get a "whole" blessing. If you miss half the service you get a "half" blessing. If you come early, stay after, you get "extra credit" blessings. You get out of it what you put into it, both in physical attendance, and in your amount of mental and spiritual engagement with what is taking place during the service. So let me encourage you to go to church on time, to go early, to go to Sunday School or Bible Studies offered before or after church, to put more into your church attendance so that not only you get more out of it, but that others get more out of you being there, including God Himself.

 

[PKFox]

My dad used to make the comparison of how football or sports fans react to a big game compared to how Christians react to church. The eager sports fan gets in their gear, maybe including face paint, and gets to the game hours early to wait in line with other people eager for the big game. For church, so often we get up just in time to change out of pajamas and grab a bite to eat before going to worship God. Now that I think about it, he might have been using this as a guilt trip, but I'm not sure.

 

[Erinny]

Emmy, Mom and I were a little late to church once and the pastor and his wife nearly ran us over getting in.

Funny enough, the sermon was about God's timing and all.

That'll do it.

 

[Greg Merrill]

My dad used to make the comparison of how football or sports fans react to a big game compared to how Christians react to church. The eager sports fan gets in their gear, maybe including face paint, and gets to the game hours early to wait in line with other people eager for the big game. For church, so often we get up just in time to change out of pajamas and grab a bite to eat before going to worship God. Now that I think about it, he might have been using this as a guilt trip, but I'm not sure.

Funny, but I like it.