January 14, 2013

Is Church Attendance Important?

A pastor heard that one of his parishioners was going about announcing to one & all that he would no longer attend church services. This rebellious parishioner was advancing the familiar argument that he could communicate with God just as easily out in the fields with nature as his setting for worship.

One winter evening,the pastor called on this reluctant member of his flock for a friendly visit. The two men sat before the fireplace making small talk, but studiously avoiding the issue of church attendance. After a while, the pastor took the tongs from the rack next to the fireplace and pulled a single coal from the fire. He placed the glowing ember on the hearth. As the two watched in silence the coal quickly ceased burning and turned an ashen gray, while the other coals in the fire continued to burn brightly. The pastor’s silent message was not lost on the parishioner After a long pause, he turned to the pastor & said “I’ll be back at services next Sunday.”

Do not abandon the assemblies as some of you do, but encourage one another but all the more since the day of the Lord is nearing. (Hebrew 10: 25)
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