Got Church?

February 1, 2008

By Gary Rogers

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25, NIV).

Are people more reluctant to make a commitment these days?

In the generation before mine, people took a job and often stuck with it for 20, 30 or even 40 years. Divorce was rare and usually viewed with disapproval. On a more mundane level, people would just about fight to show their loyalty to their favorite make of car. You better not say anything bad about their Ford, Chevy or Dodge. Many people lived in the same house from their children’s birth through the marriage of each child. Their grandchildren very likely visited them at that same address.

And in the church? That generation of Christians were in church regardless of the obstacle or distraction. Few would consider some personal event or agenda as more important than attending God’s house. Fellowship with other believers was held as a supreme commitment.

Where is that level of commitment today?

As a pastor, I have contacted people who have missed church a couple of times to see if anything was wrong or if they needed anything. Some take offense. “Why are you calling me? I don’t need anyone checking up on me!”

To whom or to what are we making our commitments? No, it’s not to a building. Our commitment must be to Christ. I’ve always believed we attend God’s house to meet with God.

May your commitment to Jesus give you a desire to want to be in His presence with those who gather in His name! If you’ve not been in church, I’m sure your church family misses you.

Perhaps this Sunday can be the start of a new commitment for you.

— Gary Rogers is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla.