Going To Worship

By Ed McGeachy

Does this happen in your home?  Another Sunday rolls around and someone asks, “Are we going to church today?”  To ask the question suggests there are options, and an option considered is usually an option which can be rationalized.  Reasonable-sounding options of course, such as, “We need to spend more time together as a family,” “It’s been a tough week, we deserve a rest,” “We’ll have the opportunity to go to – fill in the blank – besides we’re pretty regular in attendance,” or … well you know how it goes.

Stand back for a moment and consider the scenario just described.  Is it farfetched, improbable or imaginary?  None of the above.  Does it therefore suggest that those engaged in such discussions are on the verge of abandoning the faith?  Negative.  However, I do suggest that when Christians convincingly rationalize “forsaking our own assembling together” (Heb.10:25), a fundamental and essential ingredient is missing from the thinking process:  awe of the holiness of God!

Reflect for a moment on the situation presented in Genesis 22.  When Abraham told his young men to stay with the donkey, he said, “I and the lad will go over there (referring to the mountain designated by God); and we will worship (prostrate oneself in homage to God) and return to you” (v.5).

• Isn’t everything we do “worship,” and can’t we worship anywhere?  Therefore Abraham could have worshipped at home or standing by the donkey. However, Abraham said they would “go over there; and worship.”
• The implication is clear:  we will go, worship and we will return.  But Abraham was going to offer his son as a burnt offering at God’s direction (v.2), believing, however, that God was able to raise Isaac from the dead (Heb.11:19).

Worship for Abraham was not a casual elective.  There was no, “Do I have to?” or “God is asking too much.”  He went, “over there” for the specific purpose to bow himself down to God, a bowing down which was to require of him the greatest sacrifice, offering his only son whom he loved (v.2), but which would result in his receiving the greatest promise, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice” (v.22).

Therefore, when the next Sunday rolls around, will we, who are on the receiving end of the promise made to Abraham (Gal.3:16), and who by obedience to the gospel now belong to Christ and are Abraham’s descendants (Gal.3:26-29), show the same humble dedication and reverence as our godly ancestor?  “Forsaking our own assembling together”? Perish the thought!  When we “come together as a church” (I Cor.11:18) to remember and commune with our Lord (I Cor.10:16), worship our God, encourage and be encouraged by those “of like precious faith” (II Pet.1:1) – without a second thought, I too am going “over there”!

This is the weekly bulletin article written by Ed McGeachy.  Keep visiting our site to read future articles.