By Cory Sexton
- As for the fallacy of allowing children to choose for themselves, this argument or suggestion is usually only relative to religious conversations. Typically speaking, children are not allowed to choose their schooling regimen, they are not allowed to choose their own doctors, they are not allowed to choose their own medication, in fact, just about their entire life is planned for them (and rightly so), why would church attendance with mom and dad be any different?
- If you will be purposeful then church attendance must become of prevailing and predominant importance to the family. This means that it takes a place on the calendar where it cannot be preempted by another event. Just as you must go to work, and the children must go to school, we all must go to church – with the same dedication, the same devotion, the same consideration, as the other must on your schedule.
- “The man who attempts Christianity without the church shoots himself in the foot, shoots his children in the leg, and shoots his grandchildren in the heart.” – Kevin DeYoung.
- I am certain, Heroic Church Membership begins with attendance. Planned, purposeful, prevailing, and predominant church attendance.
- Step two is involvement. Consistent, considerate, cooperative, and courageous involvement. Everything gets better with involvement.
- The third step is to minister. You must attend, you must be involved, and you must minister. That is the aim of every Heroic Church Member.
- Unless you take ownership of the church you attend, you will never be more than a casual attender, and casual attendance leads to casual Christianity.
- The Church that is portrayed in the Scriptures is a powerful, productive, and participative Body of believers. Seeking the Lord and led of the Holy Spirit.
- Unfortunately, many have predetermined that faithfulness ends with attendance, when truly faithfulness only begins in attendance.
- Names have been given such as a “Cruise Ship Christians” (Jack Hibbs) and there is a whole potato family allegory that includes Dick-tater, he’s just the boss and Emmy-tater, she’s just a fake, and Hezy-tater, he’s just a stall and Carmen-tater, she has an opinion and Agi-tater, she’s just trouble and Sweet-tater, who happens to be the best of the bunch and of course we can’t forget Speck-tater. Speck’s favorite phrase is: “I love work; I can watch others do it for hours.” He doesn’t get involved, but he’s a great observer.
- There’s a need to be present, which is your attendance, your attention, and your affection.