Scriptural Texts for 10-28-2007

“Excuses”

We've all heard excuses from people who try to explain why they don't like to go to church. Perhaps my favorite story of someone explaining why they didn't like to go to church is this one, although there are many variations:

Wife: "Honey, it's time to get up and get dressed for church!"

Husband: "I don't want to go to church. I don't think the people like me, and I don't like them. Give me two reasons why I should go to church!"

Wife: "Well, for one, it's good for you. And second, you're the pastor!"

• Making excuses is not new. Humans have been making excuses from the beginning of creation. Humans making up excuses for their bad decisions is a common occurrence in the Scriptures – the first excuses were made by Adam and Eve, in the Garden:
  
  Genesis 3:12-13 – “ And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”
  
  13: “And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”
  

Passing the blame, offering up smokescreens, has long been a tendency of guilt-ridden human beings, who don’t like to take responsibility for themselves, yet fool themselves into thinking that they are self-sufficient:

Genesis 4:9 – “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?”

The Bible assures us that we need Spiritual fellowship with other Children of God; we are better off when we're in fellowship with others. This sentiment is even expressed in the Old Testament:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – “9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

The thought of needing others is even more plainly discussed in the New Testament:

Hebrews 10: 22-27 – 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 5Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Furthermore, the Scriptures tell us that when we know to do the right thing, and we refuse, we’re guilty of sinning…it’s not only emphasized in Hebrews 10:26-27, but also in the epistle of James…

James 4:17
17 …to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

· Even in the Old Testament, this thought is expressed, in the story of the downfall of King Saul:

1 Samuel 15:23 - For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

We know it's the right thing to go to church regularly; let us pray to the Lord that He will help us to do the right thing.

It's like that old bumpster sticker, but with a twist? What, other than God, is the center of C-H-U-R-C-H? - U.R. Yes, "You are."

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