Where Would You Rather Be on Sunday?

While I will be addressing the DTR2 series, I will intersperse it with some other thoughts, especially since I have been doing some reading of biographies that has stimulated quite a bit of reflection about various issues.

In reading the 2 volume biography of D. Martin Lloyd-Jones by Iain Murray, I am struck by how straightforward and blunt Lloyd-Jones was, especially when he first started out as a preacher. I have always been challenged by preachers who fearlessly proclaimed God's truth, who did not seek man's approval but God's alone. John MacArthur has obviously been a lifelong living example of that to me, along with my college pastor Chris Mueller, who invested in my life ever since my junior high days. So if you are wondering where all the blunt approach comes from, you can chalk it up to my upbringing.

But here is the issue that I wanted to address in this post. Where would you rather be on a given Sunday? For some people, attending church is a chore, almost a burden, if not a downright pain. You can tell on just some of the looks on people's faces, whether they are asleep, disinterested, doodling, or just have this pained look as they glance at their watches every few minutes, just counting down until the long-winded pastor gets done. Is it no wonder that many churches don't have much vitality and attendance is low? Here Lloyd-Jones addresses this issue in an early sermon in July 1927:

"People complain about the dwindling congregations and how the churches are going down. Why are people ceasing to attend places of worship? Why is it, that last Sunday night I noticed that, while the places of worship in Cardiff were only sparsely attended, the trains coming from Porthcawl and other sea-side places were packed out. Why did these people spend their day at the seaside and in other places rather than in the House of God worshipping? Well, the answer is perfectly plain. They obviously prefer to be at the sea-side and feel that they get more benefit there than they do in the chapels and the churches. Now it is no use arguing with people like that, it is no use our telling them that they really do not get greater benefit there, because they honestly believe that they do...what I feel like saying to these trippers is this: If you honestly believe (and remember it is your responsibility) that you derive greater benefit by spending your day in the country than you do by attending a place of worship, well then, go to the country. Don't come here if you honestly feel that you could do better elsewhere. Unless you feel that something is being offered or equal, well then, in the name of Heaven, go out into the country or to the sea-side. The church of Christ is a church of believers, an association of people banded together by a common belief and a common love. You don't believe? Well, above all, do not pretend that you do, go to the country and the sea-side. All I ask of you is, be consistent. When someone dies in your family, do not come to ask the church in which you do not believe to come to bury him. Go to the sea-side for consolation..." (Iain Murray, D. Martin Lloyd-Jones: The First 40 Years, p. 138)

This almost sounds too harsh to say but you have to understand that in the context of knowing the tremendous blessings of being a part of God's church, it is foolish to try and soften the language in hopes that people will "get" it. The local church was designed by God to be the institution through which the kingdom of God is to be both experienced and spread to the rest of this world. We have been given the riches of heaven and the opportunity to enjoy genuinely loving relationships with people in serving one another so that we might be a light to this world and point people to the Savior. But a church that is nominal in its passion for the things of God is ultimately useless. A church becomes nominal only because the individuals in it become nominal. So the question comes down to this - are you a nominal believer? If so, don't be a hypocrite. Don't go to church if you don't really believe that it is a priority to do so. Don't pretend to be a member if you really don't see the value of participating in the life of the body of Christ. Don't act like you care to be here on Sundays when inside your heart you would rather be at the beach, or watch a Laker game, or write xanga entries about how you idolize your car, or whatever else you would rather do. There are those in our midst who would rather pursue the things of this world, whether it be riches, fame, or the approval of man in any number of ways. But the Scriptures are clear - those things which are not of God are not able to provide what only God can. And so what Lloyd-Jones says makes a lot of sense - be consistent. Do what you would rather do. But don't count on the church then to be there to help you in your time of need. Rather go to the place where your heart is and let them try to help you. You can't have it both ways.

The point is that if you really have experienced the grace of God in your life, you would then treasure the things of God, and your participation in the local church would be a reflection of that.

I can already anticipate the rebuttals that would come in response to this. "John, you're too harsh." "Aren't you being judgmental?" What, do you want us to give up our jobs or education and live at the church?" If your line of thinking is anything like this, you simply don't get it. It really comes down to your heart.

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The church is an institution that will go on through eternity. Is your heart for the church?

If you are struggling with this issue, just start with the question, "Do you love Jesus?" Because if you say you do love Jesus, you would love being His bride, which is to be part of the church. If you don't love being His bride, you need to really ask yourself then whether you really love Jesus.

If you say you love Jesus, then you will show it through your loving obedience to His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

So where would you rather be this Sunday? Go there. If you say you would rather be at church, then make sure that you really mean it. If you don't mean it, don't come. But don't expect anything from the church.

Think about that before you come to church this Sunday.